Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 15 2 2016 04 04 93 104 EN Mehdi Varmaghani Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Pharmaceutical Management and Economic Research Center (PMERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Farshad Farzadfar Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Farshad Sharifi Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Elderly Health Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran university of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Arash Rashidian Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran, Iran AND Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mostafa Moin Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Maziar Moradi-Lakeh Community Medicine Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shadi Rahimzadeh Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Epidemiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sahar saeedi Moghaddam Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Abbas Kebriaeezadeh Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Pharmaceutical Management and Economic Research Center (PMERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 31 2016 01 17 In this study, we aimed to conduct a meta-analysis on the results of eligible studies to estimate the prevalence of asthma, COPD, and Chronic bronchitis in Iran. International and Iranian databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Iranmedex, and scientific information database (SID) were searched for population–based studies that had reported the prevalence of asthma and COPD from 1990 to 2015. We conducted the meta-analysis using metaprop application of Stata statistical software. I-Squared was used for calculating heterogeneity among the studies. To determine causes of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and meta-regression method were used. Based on the results of random effect method, the overall prevalence of asthma ever was 4.56% (3.76%-5.36%) among men while it was 4.17% (3.42%-4.91%) among women. Pooled prevalence of current asthma was 7.95% while confidence interval changed from 5.85% to 10.06% (men 5.83% (2.75%-8.92%), women 9.13% (3.35%-14.94%)). Also based on the results of random effect model pooled prevalence of chronic bronchitis of five studies was 5.57%. It seems that the total crude prevalence of current asthma in Iran is less than many other countries such as Kuwait, Lebanon, Thailand, Japan, Australia and Germany and is higher than some other countries such as Oman, Pakistan, South Korea, India, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Spain, Russia, and Greece. On the other hand, Iran is in middle situation in terms of the prevalence current asthma. Our results can fill the information and knowledge gaps about the status of the prevalence of respiratory diseases in Iran. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/636 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/636/621

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 15 2 2016 04 04 105 111 EN Sait Karaman Dr Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Izmir, Turkey Demet Can Dr Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Izmir, Turkey Semiha Erdem Dr Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Izmir, Turkey Hikmet Nacaroğlu Dr Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Izmir, Turkey Canan Karkıner Dr Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Izmir, Turkey İlker Günay Dr Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Izmir, Turkey 2015 10 14 2015 12 06 Few biomarkers that can predict the clinical response to allergen immunotherapy (AIT) have been identified. The aim of the present study was to investigate parameters that could be used “in predicting the clinical response to AIT” in children with asthma caused by house dust mites. We evaluated 107 children with mild persistent asthma who were sensitised only to mite aeroallergens. The study group included 47 patients who underwent a 4-to-5-year course of subcutaneous immunotherapy with standardised mite allergenic extract. Sixty patients who had not undergone AIT but were allergic to house mites were included in the control group. The clinical features and laboratory parameters of patients who did and did not sustain remission were compared. Remission was achieved in 74.5% of the 47 patients in the study group and in 20% of those in the control group. In the study group, one parameter predictive of a clinical response to AIT was identified by multivariate logistic analysis. This parameter was the serum total IgE level (tIgE) at the time of diagnosis (OR 131.64 and CI 0.858–20193; p = 0.032). Serum tIgE levels ≤ 339 kU/L at diagnosis were associated with an effective clinical response to AIT, with a sensitivity of 64.5% and specificity of 88.9%. We conclude that measurement of the serum tIgE level can be used as a predictive test prior to AIT in patients sensitized to mite aeroallergens. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/382 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/382/626

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 15 2 2016 04 04 112 121 EN Tomic-Spiric Vesna Clinic for Allergology and Immunology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Dizdarevic Denisa Clinic for Allergology and Immunology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Jankovic Slavenka Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Burazer Lidija Department of Allergy, Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", Belgrade, Serbia Barac Aleksandra Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Bolpacic Jasna Clinic for Allergology and Immunology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Djuric Vojislav Clinic for Allergology and Immunology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Peric-Popadic Aleksandra Clinic for Allergology and Immunology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Aleksic Aleksandra Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, University Hospital, Clinical Center of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bogic Mirjana Clinic for Allergology and Immunology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia AND Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 2015 10 25 2015 12 06 Sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) is considered to be safer and more convenient than subcutaneus immunotherapy. SLIT trials with house dust mites involving patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma reported discordant results. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of SLIT with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.pt) extract produced in Serbia and patient’s satisfaction through open-label trial. Adult patients with allergic rhinitis were randomized into two groups: one received drugs and SLIT, while other received only drugs. Symptom score (SS), medication score (MS) and cumulative score (CS), skin prick tests (SPT) and serum level of D. pt specific IgE were assessed. One year after, the patients were re-evaluated. In total, 61 patients were enrolled in the study, but 52 of them were analyzed at the end of the year. CS (29.3%, p<0.001) and MS (54.3%, p<0.05) reduced significantly in the SLIT group. There was a significant improvement of MS and CS in the SLIT compared to control group (p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively). There was no significant improvement of SS as well as specific slgE. Patients in the SLIT group were more satisfied with treatment (p<0.001). The incidence of mild adverse reaction was 38.4%. Specific lgG was not done. One year SLIT with D.pt extract was clinically efficient treatment in AR patients. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/629 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/629/619

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 15 2 2016 04 04 122 131 EN Fatemeh Dousti Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mohammad-Ali Assarehzadegan Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AND Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Payam Morakabati Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Gholam Reza Khosravi Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Bahareh Akbari Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran 2015 10 13 2015 11 08 Pollen from mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) is one of the important causes of immediate hypersensitivity reactions in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The aim of present study is to produce and purify the recombinant form of allergenic Ole e 1-like protein from the pollen of this allergenic tree. Immunological and cross-inhibition assays were performed for the evaluation of IgE-binding capacity of purified recombinant protein. For molecular cloning, the coding sequence of the mesquite Ole e 1-like protein was inserted into pTZ57R/T vector and expressed in Escherichia coli using the vector pET-21b(+). After purification of the recombinant protein, its immunoreactivity was analysed by in vitro assays using sera from twenty one patients with an allergy to mesquite pollen. The purified recombinant allergen was a member of Ole e 1-like protein family and consisted of 150 amino acid residues, with a predicted molecular mass of 16.5 kDa and a calculated isoelectric point (pI) of 4.75. Twelve patients (57.14%) had significant specific IgE levels for this recombinant allergen. Immunodetection and inhibition assays indicated that the purified recombinant allergen might be the same as that in the crude extract. Herein, we introduce an important new allergen from P. juliflora pollen (Pro j 1), which is a member of the Ole e 1-like protein family and exhibits significant identity and similarity to other allergenic members of this family. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/376 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/376/628

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 15 2 2016 04 04 132 137 EN Mozhgan Moghtaderi Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran AND Allergy Clinic of Ali-Asghar Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Shirin Farjadian Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran AND Department of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Mohammad Fereidouni Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Mahboubeh Nasiri Department of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Arsalan Nejat Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2015 10 26 2015 10 26 Exposure to indoor allergens plays an important role in the etiology of asthma. This study was designed to quantify indoor allergens from homes of families that had at least one case of childhood asthma at home in a southwestern city of Iran. The relationship between the indoor allergen levels and home characteristics was also investigated. Dust samples were collected from the bedrooms and the kitchens of 35 homes where children with persistent asthma were living. The levels of indoor allergens were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Detectable amounts of mite, mouse and cockroach allergens were found in all evaluated places. None of our patients were exposed to a threshold concentration of indoor allergen for sensitizing at home. Regarding of mite allergens, the levels of Der f1 were significantly higher than Der p1 and a direct correlation was observed between living in an apartment and Der f1 levels. Moreover, Fel d1 (cat) and Bla g1 (cockroach) allergens were found in the children’s bedrooms more frequently than those in the kitchens. In this study, direct associations were obtained between Bla g1 allergen and the duration of occupancy and between Fel d1 and average home size. A total of 34.2% of the patients showed positive skin reactions to at least one of the tested allergens as 17.1% of them showed reactivity to D. pteronyssinus. Proper controlling of cockroaches and mice by public health officials would be a practical approach to avoid inducing asthma or worsening the symptoms. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/630 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/630/617

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 15 2 2016 Ali Akbar Pourfathollah Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 16 Asthma as a chronic inflammatory airway disease is considered to be the most common chronic disease that is involving genetic and environmental factors. Toll like receptors (TLRs) and other inflammatory mediators are important in modulation of inflammation. In this study, we evaluated the role of TLR2 Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphisms in the asthma susceptibility, progress, control levels and lung functions in Iranian patients. On 99 asthmatic patients and 120 normal subjects, TLR2 Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphisms were evaluated by PCR-RFLP method recruiting Msp1 and Nco1 restriction enzymes, respectively. IgE serum levels by ELISA technique were determined and asthma diagnosis, treatment and control levels were considered using standard schemes and criteria. Our results indicated that the genotype and allele frequencies of the TLR2 Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphisms were not significantly different between control subjects and asthmatics and were not related to in asthma features such as IgE levels, asthma history and pulmonary factors. Wherease some previous studies indicated TLRs and their polymorphisms might have some role in asthma incidence and features, our data demonstrated that TLR2 Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly gene variants were not risk factors for asthma or its features in Iranian patients. Genetic complexity, ethnicity, influence of other genes or polymorphisms may overcome these polymorphisms in our asthmatics. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/413 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/413/424

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 14 1 2015 02 15 55 59 EN Mohammad Hashemi Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran AND  Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Mohammad Naderi Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicin, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Mahboubeh Ebrahimi Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Shadi Amininia Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Gholamreza Bahari Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Mohsen Taheri Genetics of Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran AND Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Ebrahim Eskandari-Nasab Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Saeid Ghavami Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada. 2015 10 16 Macrophages and T-lymphocytes are involved in immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Macrophage produces interleukin (IL)-1 as an inflammatory mediator. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL1-Ra) is a natural antagonist of IL-1 receptors. In this study we aimed to examine the possible association between the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) gene and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in a sample of Iranian population. Our study is a case-control study and we examined the VNTR of the IL1RN gene in 265 PTB and 250 healthy subjects by PCR. Neither the overall chi-square comparison of PTB and control subjects nor the logistic regression analysis indicated any association between VNTR IL1RN polymorphism and PTB. Our data suggest that VNTR IL1RN polymorphism may not be associated with the risk of PTB in a sample of Iranian population. Larger studies with different ethnicities are needed to find out the impact of IL1RN VNTR polymorphism on risk of developing TB. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/412 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/412/425

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 14 1 2015 02 15 60 66 EN Nurhan Sarioglu Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Balikesir University Balikesir, Turkey. Adnan Adil Hismiogullari Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkey. Fuat Erel Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Balikesir University Balikesir, Turkey. Dudu Demir Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. Nahit Gencer Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Art, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkey. 2015 10 16 Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and arylesterase are esterase enzymes displaying antioxidant characteristics. PON1 activity varies widely among individuals and ethnic groups, partly related to polymorphisms. The aim of this study was to determine the activities of PON1 and arylesterase including the phenotype distribution of PON1 in asthmatic patients and healthy subjects. Forty-nine asthmatic patients and 41 healthy people were included in this study. Serum PON1 and arylesterase activities were determined by spectrophotometric assays, as well as the lipid profiles. The PON1 ratio (salt stimulated paraoxonase/arylesterase) was trimodally distributed and this ratio was used to determine the individual phenotypes of all subjects. The PON1 activity in the asthmatic patients was significantly lower (p=0.024) when compared to the healthy control group, however no significant difference in the activity of arylesterase was observed between the two groups. The prevalence of the PON1 phenotypes in the asthmatic population were 26.5%, 16.3% and 57.2 % for QQ, QR and RR, respectively. PON1 activity was significantly lower in asthmatic patients; in addition, the results of this investigation indicated that PON1 RR phenotype may be an important risk factor in asthma disease. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/411 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/411/426

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 14 1 2015 02 15 67 73 EN Maryam Hassanzad Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Soheila Khalilzadeh Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Shabnam Eslampanah Nobari Tobacco Prevention Control Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohammadreza Bloursaz Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hooman Sharifi Tobacco Prevention Control Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Seyed Amir Mohajerani Tobacco Prevention Control Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Sabereh Tashayoie Nejad Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Ali Akbar Velayati Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 16 Asthma environmental triggers play important roles in severity of disease. Passive smoking could exacerbate asthma symptoms and enhance the decrease in lung function. Cotinine levels could be a reflection of passive exposure to the cigarette both in adults and pediatrics. The aim of this study was to determine degree of association of asthma severity and cotinine level as a marker of passive smoking. In a cross-sectional study, 100 pediatric patients (under 10 years old) with asthma were enrolled, 50 of whom, had been exposed to passive smoking and 50 others included as controls. A complete clinical history, lab exam, and spirometry were performed. A sample of urine, serum and saliva was collected from all attendant patients and controls in the study after confirmation of diagnosis and determination of severity of asthma. The results revealed that age, sex, age of onset of asthma, family history and allergic history were not significantly different between two groups of patients. According to GINA classification, percentage of patients with severe asthma was significantly higher in passive smoker group (p=0.001). Cotinine was significantly higher in passive smoker group compared to control group in serum (p=001), saliva (p=0.001), and urine (p=0.0014). In passive smoker group, cotinine levels were significantly higher in serum (p=0.001), urine (p=0.007), and saliva (p=0.01) of patients with severe asthma than moderate and mild asthma. Serum cotinine (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.35-2.32, p=0.024), urine cotinine (OR: 3.56,95% CI = 1.29-5.53, p=0.01) and saliva cotinine (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.23-1.98, p=0.031) were also significantly associated with higher risk of severe asthma. Cotinine levels were higher in passive smokers compared to non-passive smokers. Besides, cotinine was a predictive risk factor for severe asthma. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/410 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/410/427

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 14 1 2015 02 15 74 82 EN Mohammad-Ali Assarehzadegan Cellular and Molecular Research Center of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran AND Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Ali Khodadadi Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Akram Amini Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Abdol-Hosein Shakurnia Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.. Seyed Saeid Marashi Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Hosein Ali-Sadeghi Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Farnoosh Zarinhadideh Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Najmeh Sepahi Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 2015 10 16 Allergy to Prosopis juliflora (mesquite) pollen is one of the common causes of respiratory allergy in tropical countries. Mesquite is widely used as street trees in towns and ornamental shade trees in parks and gardens throughout arid and semiarid regions of Iran. The inhalation of mesquite pollen and several species of Amaranthus/Chenopodiaceae family is the most important cause of allergic respiratory symptoms in Khuzestan province. This study was designed to evaluate IgE banding proteins of mesquite pollen extract and its IgE cross-reactivity with other allergenic plants. Twenty patients with allergic symptoms and positive skin prick tests (SPT) for mesquite pollen extract participated in the study. Crude pollen extract was prepared from local mesquite trees and used for the evaluation of allergenic profiles of P. juliflora pollen extract by Sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and IgE-immunoblotting. There were several protein bands in mesquite pollen extract using SDS-PAGE with the approximate range of molecular weight of 10-85 kDa. The most frequent IgE reactive bands among the patients' sera were approximately 20 and 66 kDa. However, there were other IgE reactive protein bands among the patients' sera with molecular weights of 10, 15, 35, 45, 55 and 85 kDa. Inhibition experiments revealed high IgE cross-reactivity betwe