w22 Japanese Hop

Allergens within Weed Pollens

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  • Latin name: Humulus scandens
  • Family: Cannabaceae
  • Common names: Japanese Hop, Hop Japanese
  • Source material: Pollen
Synonyms: Humulus japonicus
 
Plant
A plant which may result in allergy symptoms in sensitised individuals.

Allergen Exposure

Geographical distribution
Japanese Hop originated and is widespread in the Far East. This is an annual or weakly perennial climber, growing 3 to 6 m high. It has deeply 5- to 7-lobed large leaves and prickly stems. The flowers are green spikes. Variegated forms are common. It is wind-pollinated, with a flowering season from August to October.
 
Environment
Japanese Hop is primarily a weed of pastures, hayfields, and other non-crop areas. It is found throughout Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and West Virginia of the USA, as well as being widespread in both rural and urban areas of the Far East. It is one of the best twining climbers for screening off fences and other unsightly parts of the garden. Hop Japanese pollens are abundant in the air during the autumn season. In Korea, pollen from this tree is a particularly prominent autumn allergen (1).
 
In China and Japan this plant is commonly utilised as a tonic for the genito-urinary system. The young leaves and young shoots are cooked and eaten.
 
Allergens
No allergens from this plant have yet been characterised.
 
Proteins of 10, 16, 20, 29 and 42 kDa have been isolated from H. japonicus in immunoblot analysis. In sera of H. japonicus-reactive patients, a protein of 10 kDa was the most prevalent allergen isolated, occurring in 72% of sera and therefore being classed as a major allergen (2). An earlier study reported isolating 12 IgE-binding components ranging from 13 to 89 kDa. Three protein bands of 13, 74, and 80 kDa were isolated and bound to serum IgE of more than 50% of patients allergic to this pollen (1).

Potential Cross-Reactivity

An extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the family could be expected (3). Members of this family include Hemp (Cannabis sativa) and commercial Hop (Humulus lupulus).
 
Patients allergic to Japanese Hop pollen were noted to have an associated sensitisation to Hop (Humulus lupulus), Celery and Sunflower pollen (4).
 
Ginkgo pollen, a prominent aeroallergen in Korea, was shown to have a minor degree of cross-reactivity with pollen from Japanese Hop. In patients with specific IgE to Ginkgo pollen, in inhibitory ELISA tests, IgE binding to Ginkgo pollen was inhibited by more than 80% by Oak, Ryegrass, Mugwort, and Ragweed; and 34% by Japanese Hop. In inhibitory immunoblot tests, IgE binding to Ginkgo pollen proteins was almost completely inhibited by Oak, Ryegrass, Mugwort and Ragweed, but only partially by Japanese Hop and rBet v 2 (5).

Clinical Experience

IgE-mediated reactions
Japanese Hop is a very frequent cause of symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis in sensitised individuals in autumn, in particular in the East. Between 6.1% and 14% of Korean patients with asthma, rhinitis and conjunctivitis attending an allergy clinic have been shown to be sensitised to this allergen, and a similarly high prevalence occurs in China (1, 6-9). Recent studies in Korea suggest that sensitisation to this pollen is increasing (4).
 
Although exposure to pollen from this plant appears to be less prevalent in Europe and the USA, aerobiological studies have detected this pollen in the city of Salamanca, Spain, as well as on the western United States Gulf Coast (10-11).
 
In Korean apple farmers, Japanese Hop was demonstrated to be a prevalent allergen, although the most common sensitising allergen was European red spider mite (23.2%), followed by Tyrophagus putrescentiae (21.2%), two-spotted spider mite (16.6%), Dermatophagoides farinae (16.3%), D pteronyssinus (14.4%), and cockroach (13.1%). Twelve percent of the study group were found to be sensitised to Japanese Hop pollen (12).
 
Other reactions
Humulus japonicus vines are covered with hooked hairs which make working with them painful. Dermatitis and blistering may occur.
 
Hops (Humulus lupulus) Rf324 are the dried flower heads or the extract of the fruit of another Hop plant and are used in beer manufacture.
 
Compiled by Dr Harris Steinman, harris@zingsolutions.com

References:

    1. Park HS, Nahm DH, Suh CH, Lee SM, Choi SY, Jung KS, Lee SY, Park K. Evidence of Hop Japanese pollinosis in Korea: IgE sensitization and identification of allergenic components. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;100(4):475-9
    2. Park JW, Ko SH, Kim CW, Jeoung BJ, Hong CS. Identification and characterization of the major allergen of the Humulus japonicus pollen. Clin Exp Allergy 1999 Aug;29(8):1080-6
    3. Yman L. Botanical relations and immunological cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. Uppsala. Sweden. 1982: ISBN 91-970475-09
    4. Park HS, Jung KS, Jee SY, Hong SH, Kim HY, Nahm DH. Are there any links between Hop Japanese pollen and other weed pollens or food allergens on skin prick tests? Allergy Asthma Proc 2001;22(1):43-6
    5. Yun YY, Ko SH, Park JW, Hong CS. IgE immune response to Ginkgo biloba pollen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2000;85(4):298-302
    6. Park HS, Nahm DH, Kim HY, Suh YJ, Cho JW, Kim SS, Lee SK, Jung KS. Clinical and immunologic changes after allergen immunotherapy with Hop Japanese pollen. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2001;86(4):444-8
    7. Li WK, Wang CS. Survey of air-borne allergic pollens in North China: contamination with ragweed. N Engl Reg Allergy Proc 1986;7(2):134-43
    8. Yin J, Ye S, Zou M, He H, Gu R. An ELISA assay for humulus scandens specific IgE antibodies. [Chinese] Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao 1998;20(2):148-53
    9. Park HS, Chung DH, Joo YJ. Survey of airborne pollens in Seoul, Korea. J Korean Med Sci 1994;9(1):42-6
    10. Hernandez Prieto M, Lorente Toledano F, Romo Cortina A, Davila Gonzalez I, Laffond Yges E, Calvo Bullon A. Pollen calendar of the city of Salamanca (Spain). Aeropalynological analysis for 1981-1982 and 1991-1992. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 1998;26(5):209-22
    11. Lewis WH, Dixit AB, Wedner HJ. Aeropollen of weeds of the western United States Gulf Coast. Ann Allergy 1991;67(1):47-52
    12. Kim YK, Lee MH, Jee YK, Hong SC, Bae JM, Chang YS, Jung JW, Lee BJ, Son JW, Cho SH, Min KU, Kim YY. Spider mite allergy in apple-cultivating farmers: European red mite (Panonychus ulmi) and two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) may be important allergens in the development of work-related asthma and rhinitis symptoms. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104(6):1285-92

2004