A hypothesis for the mechanism of immediate hypersensitivity to mannitol

Yeldur P. Venkatesh, Venkatesh L. Hegde

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to mannitol present naturally in pomegranate (Punica granatum) and cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) have appeared in the medical literature recently. Mannitol, being inert, cannot react with proteins to form a hapten-carrier conjugate and elicit an immune response. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanism of immediate hypersensitivity to this sugar alcohol. A likely mechanism was conceptualized to explain how an individual can become sensitized to mannitol and how free mannitol can elicit an anaphylactic reaction in the sensitized individual. The proposed mechanism for sensitization involves the reaction of D-mannose with exposed amino groups of proteins in vivo to form Schiff base intermediates bearing a D-mannitoyl moiety, which closely resembles D-mannitol. This intermediate appears to be responsible for eliciting the formation of mannitol-specific IgE in susceptible individuals. Once an individual is sensitized with the formation of mannitol-specific IgE, mannitol can cause anaphylactic reactions by acting either as a univalent anaphylactogen or a bivalent hapten. The Schiff base intermediate bearing the mannitoyl moiety appears to act as a true sensitizer, whereas D-mannose appears to act as prosensitizer and D-mannitol acts as a non-sensitizing elicitor. This hypothesis can also explain the mechanism of sensitization and IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to any sugar alcohol.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)165-170
    Number of pages6
    JournalAllergology International
    Volume52
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Sep 2003

    Keywords

    • Anaphylactogen
    • Hapten
    • Hypersensitivity
    • Mannitol
    • Nonsensitizing elicitor
    • Prosensitizer
    • Sensitizer

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Immunology and Allergy

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A hypothesis for the mechanism of immediate hypersensitivity to mannitol'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this