Annual Report of Activities CNC 2011 - Center for Neuroscience and ...

Pinus sp ,Quercus sp, Betula sp, Chenopodium sp., Plantago sp., Platanus sp., Eucalytpus sp was evaluated through several enzymatic assays (1D, 2D Zymography, fluorgenic assays). All pollen diffusates were shown to have high molecular weight proteases with low pI, and predominant serine and/or aminopeptidase activity. These proteases increased transepithelial permeability through disruption of transmembrane proteins and degrade airways bioactive peptides that can disturb the balance between the anti-­‐ and pro-­‐inflammatory effects in the lung. Pollen proteases are likely to be involved in the sensitization to a range of airborne allergens by facilitating allergen delivery across the epithelium, and also contribute directly to the inflammation characteristic of allergic diseases. Our results suggest that even less allergenic pollens are likely to be involved in the allergic sensitization and in chronic respiratory inflammation. The presence of these enzymes may explain the extent of respiratory symptoms in subjects with non-­‐IgE mediated rhinitis or asthma that takes place at the peak of pollen season. Finally, the degradomics platform started to be implemented using pollen proteases and specific targets, aiming to identify protease cleavage sites. This approach resulted in a high ranked publication in the field and will be further extended to non-­‐targeted analysis. Proteomics approaches to elucidate changes in protein levels have been successfully used in the past in the identification of potential biomarkers for multiple sclerosis disease. During the reported period, we collaborated in an Alzheimer’s’ disease biomarkers project for the validation of new and also known biomarker. Moreover, a collaboration in a large scale proteomics analysis of plant tissues resulted in a recently accepted publication in a highly ranked journal in the field. 38