CYPRESS POLLEN ALLERGY
Key Allergens
Most cypress trees are in the Cupressus genus of plants, but Japanese cypress is in the Chamaecyparis genus of trees.
There are 3 types of cypress trees defined by the WHO (World Health Organization), the allergens associates with this pollen include pectate lyase and polygalacturonase. Common cypress pollen also contains thaumatins and gibberellin-regulated proteins.
Cypress trees release their pollen throughout the year, depending on the species.
Associated Syndromes
An allergy to cypress pollen is strongly associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever).
An cypress pollen allergy is also linked to asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.
Cypress sap contains carvacrol, terpenes and sesquiterpenes.
Cross Reactivity
Pectate lyase proteins are also found in ragweed, wormwood, cedar, sunflower and juniper pollens. Pectate lyase is also a food allergen in
almonds and in penicillin.
Polygalacturonase is also found in cedar, olive pollen, grass pollens, plane trees and saltwort. Endo-polygalacturonase is a food allergen in
papaya.
Thaumatin proteins are found in olive and cedar pollen, but are usually associated with food allergies. Food containing thaumatins include kiwi, chilli, apple, banana, cherry and peach.
Gibberellin proteins are found in cedar and cypress pollen and are more commonly associated with food. Food containing gibberellins include chilli, orange, cherry, apricot, peach and pomegranate.
Resources
Websites
Allergen Encyclopedia - Cypress
Worcester Pollen Forecast
Allergy UK - Managing your asthma and your allergic rhinitis throughout the seasons
DermNet NZ - Cyprus Trees and Skin
Articles and Journals
Precision allergy molecular diagnosis applications in food allergy, 2024
Increased allergic episodes induced by Japanese apricot following the Cupressaceae pollen season in adult patients mono-sensitized to Pru p 7, 2024
Eczema phenotypes and IgE component sensitization in adolescents: A population-based birth cohort, 2022
Impact of Preventive Measures on Subjective Symptoms and Antigen Sensitization against Japanese Cedar, Cypress Pollen and House Dust Mites in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis: A Retrospective Analysis in the COVID-19 Era, 2022
Capsicum Allergy: Involvement of Cap a 7, a New Clinically Relevant Gibberellin-Regulated Protein Cross-Reactive With Cry j 7, the Gibberellin-Regulated Protein From Japanese Cedar Pollen, 2022
Comprehensive Study on Key Pollen Allergens, 2022
Sensitization to Gibberellin-Regulated Protein (Peamaclein) Among Italian Cypress Pollen–Sensitized Patients, 2022
Phenotypes and Endotypes of Peach Allergy: What Is New? 2022
Prevalence of sensitization to molecular food allergens in Europe: A systematic review, 2022
Complex IgE sensitization patterns in ragweed allergic patients: Implications for diagnosis and specific immunotherapy, 2022
Heterogeneity of pollen food allergy syndrome in seven Southern European countries: The @IT.2020 multicenter study, 2021
Pollen-food allergy syndrome and component sensitization in adolescents: A Japanese population-based study, 2021
What does climate change mean for people with pollen allergy? 2021
Management of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: Diagnostic consideration of sensitization to non-frequent pollen allergens, 2021
Ambient daily pollen levels in association with asthma exacerbation among children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2020
Tree pollen allergens—an update from a molecular perspective, 2015
The involvement of thaumatin-like proteins in plant food cross-reactivity: a multicenter study using a specific protein microarray, 2012
Epidemiology of Cypress Pollen Allergy in Montpellier, 2012
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