Hazel Pollen
Summary
Hazel (Corylus avellana) is a wind-pollinated tree that attains a height between 4 to 8 meters and can sustain up to 80-90 years. The leaves of this tree are rounded with a length of around 6-12 cm. It is prevalent in forests, natural habitats, open areas, and mountainous regions. Exposure to hazel tree pollen may induce allergic conditions (allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis) among sensitized individuals. Cor a 1, Cor a 6, and Cor a 10 have been reported as potential allergens from hazel tree pollen. Hazel pollen exhibits a high degree of cross-reactivity with species from the Betulaceae family (alder, birch, and hornbeam), the Oleaceae family (ash, olive, lilac, and privet), and saffron.
Epidemiology
Worldwide distribution
A constant surge in the number of allergies due to tree pollen in many countries is evident. Studies have revealed that about 10 to 15% population of Poland and around 15 % of people in Norway suffer from pollinosis. The major contributors to pollinosis in the northern and eastern regions of Europe are alder, hazel, and birch trees.
A study was performed in Canada to analyze the association between tree pollen and patients' hospitalization due to aggravated asthma. The study revealed a trivial (< 2%) but statistically significant (p<0.05) correlation between hazel pollen (along with other species like alder, birch, ash, and poplar) and hospitalization of patients with severe asthma.
A four-year study (2002 - 2005) in Croatia revealed 34% of the average total pollen count was from the Betulaceae family species pollen, and Corylus sp. (like hazel) pollen accounted for 7% of the total pollen count. Among 864 sensitized patients, hazel pollen was reported as one of the critical triggers of respiratory allergy-related symptoms.
In a study conducted in 10 Canadian cities, Corylus (Hazelnut) along with Alnus (alder) and Betula (birch) tree pollens were responsible for a 1.45% increase in the risk of hospitalization due to asthma.
A Poland-based study on 625 atopic individuals (with atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis) reported 71 patients (11.36%) as skin prick test (SPT) positive towards Corylus sp. (hazel).
Pediatric issues
A study demonstrated significant relation between the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) with the sensitization level towards aeroallergens (like hazel pollen), specifically among pediatric patients with AD. The severity of this disease further depends on the extent of the breakdown in skin barrier function.
Route Of Exposure
Main
The routes of hazel tree pollen exposure are through inhalation and skin contact.
Among hazel pollen allergic individuals, atopic dermatitis symptoms are majorly induced through direct skin contact rather than inhalation.
Clinical Relevance
C. avellana (Hazel) pollen is capable of inducing allergic reactions at a concentration level of 20 to 30 grains per per day. Several pollen species (birch, poplar, hazel, oak, and Artemisia) sensitive patients suffering from allergic rhinitis show symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, itching and sneezing. These chronic allergies cause physical weakness and reduce mental concentration. To overcome these issues, patients need to undertake several measures such as changing their lifestyle or occupation, following a specific diet, and avoiding allergens, continuing life-long symptomatic therapy, including immunotherapy.
Allergic rhinitis and Allergic Conjunctivitis
In a study conducted on 52 patients exhibiting allergic rhinitis (hay fever), 50% (26/52) were allergic to several tree pollens, like hazel, birch, oak, poplar, Artemisia.
A Central Europe based study was conducted on 625 atopic individuals suspected of allergy towards airborne pollen. The results reported 14.4% (90/625) of patients were sensitized to tree pollen allergen, and 11.36% (71/625) revealed positive SPT for Corylus sp. (hazel) pollen. Among these hazel sensitized patients, 53% (38/71) had a history of atopic dermatitis, 37% (26/71) with disseminated eczematous lesions, and 10% (7/71) had rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
Asthma
A study was conducted on 15-year records of allergenic pollens associated with 1311 allergic patients with asthma in Thessaloniki, Greece. An average yearly concentration of 3% was reported for Corylus spp. (hazel) pollen. 9.6% (126/1311) sensitive individuals exhibited positive skin sensitivity towards hazel pollen.
Atopic dermatitis
According to a study, 53% of patients exhibiting positive SPT towards hazel pollen allergens also demonstrated AD correlated symptoms.
A study was conducted between 2018-2019 in the Czech Republic on 81 patients (aged ≥ 14 years) with atopic dermatitis. Positive sensitization to hazel pollen allergen (rCor a 1.0101) was observed in 45.7% (37/81) of these patients.
Other topics
A 62-years-old Turkish female working on the farm was exposed to hazelnut leaves and complained about intermittent fever, respiratory distress, and cough for the last 20 years. Patterns of chronic exogenous allergic alveolitis with predominant CD8 cell was revealed through Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) testing. Serum analysis confirmed elevated titers of IgG antibodies against mold fungi derived from the culture of the hazel-nut husk.
Prevention And Therapy
Allergen immunotherapy
For two years, an Italy-based controlled study was conducted on 36 patients exhibiting sensitivity to either grass and hazel or birch and grass allergen. The patients reported conditions like nasal, respiratory, and ocular symptoms. Pre-seasonal subcutaneous immunotherapy (SIT) with grass combined with non-injective sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with hazel/birch pollen extract in sensitized patients exhibited enhanced tolerance during the pollen exposure season. A decline in the priming effect induced by hazel/birch on symptoms during grass pollen exposure was evident from the two-year observational follow-up.
Prevention strategies
Avoidance
Avoiding exposure to aeroallergen, such as hazel tree pollen, can prevent the development of allergic symptoms. Measures such as monitoring the hazel tree pollen concentrations in the air, spreading information to the public, planning activities according to the hazel pollen count in the air, and avoiding areas with high pollen counts can help the individuals.
One of the main measures to be taken is to cut down the amount of pollen entering the respiratory system. During pollen season, allergic patients are suggested to stay indoors or wear a mask outdoors to keep away from pollen allergens. In worsening conditions, patients may be advised to move to a non-pollen area.
Cross-Reactivity
There exists a high degree of cross-reactivity and homology between the major pollen allergens found in hazel and the allergens from species of the Betulaceae family, such as alder, birch and hornbeam.
Cross-reactivity has also been documented between species of order Fagales (birch, alder, hazel, and beech) with species of the Oleaceae family (ash, olive, lilac, and privet).
A study revealed that Cro s 2 (a 34-kDa recombinant saffron profilin) possesses 79% of amino acid sequence homology with profilin from Corylus avellana (hazel tree pollen).
References
- Enescu C, Durrant T, de Rigo D, Caudullo G. Corylus avellana in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats. 2016.
- Grewling Ł, Jenerowicz D, Nowak M, Polańska A, Jackowiak B, Czarnecka-Operacz M, et al. Clinical relevance of <i>Corylus</i> pollen in Poznań, western Poland. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 2014;21(1):64-9.
- Puc M, Kasprzyk I. The patterns of Corylus and Alnus pollen seasons and pollination periods in two Polish cities located in different climatic regions. Aerobiologia (Bologna). 2013;29(4):495-511.
- CABI. Invasive Species Compendium 2019 [29-12-2020]. Available from: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/23925.
- Natalia Nikolaieva J, Brindza, Kateryna Garkava, Ostrovsky R. Pollen Features Of Hazelnut (Corylus Avellana L.) From Different Habitats. 2014.
- WHO/IUIS. Corylus avellana 2019 [29-12-2020]. Available from: http://www.allergen.org/search.php?allergensource=Corylus+avellana.
- Gioulekas D, Papakosta D, Damialis A, Spieksma F, Giouleka P, Patakas D. Allergenic pollen records (15 years) and sensitization in patients with respiratory allergy in Thessaloniki, Greece. Allergy. 2004;59(2):174-84.
- Čelakovská J, Bukač J, Vaňková R, Krcmova I, Krejsek J, Andrýs C. Sensitisation to molecular components in patients with atopic dermatitis, relation to asthma bronchiale and allergic rhinitis. Food and Agricultural Immunology. 2020;31(1):600-29.
- Piotrowska K. Comparison of Alnus, Corylus and Betula pollen counts in Lublin (Poland) and Skien (Norway). Ann Agric Environ Med. 2004;11(2):205-8.
- Dales RE, Cakmak S, Judek S, Coates F. Tree pollen and hospitalization for asthma in urban Canada. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2008;146(3):241-7.
- Peternel R, Milanović S, Hrga I, Mileta T, Čulig J. Incidence of Betulaceae pollen and pollinosis in Zagreb, Croatia, 2002-2005. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM. 2007;14:87-91.
- Zawisza E, Samolinski B, Tarchalska B, Rapiejko P. Allergenic pollen and pollinosis in Warsaw. Aerobiologia. 1993;9(1):47-51.
- Puc M. Characterisation of pollen allergens. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2003;10(2):143-9.
- Erkan F, Baur X, Kiliçaslan Z, Tabak L, Arseven O, Erelel M, et al. [Exogenous allergic alveolitis caused by mouldy hazel nut leaves]. Pneumologie. 1992;46(1):32-5.
- Xie Z-J, Guan K, Yin J. Advances in the clinical and mechanism research of pollen induced seasonal allergic Asthma. American journal of clinical and experimental immunology. 2019;8(1):1.
- Cirla AM, Cirla PE, Parmiani S, Pecora S. A pre-seasonal birch/hazel sublingual immunotherapy can improve the outcome of grass pollen injective treatment in bisensitized individuals. A case-referent, two-year controlled study. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2003;31(1):31-43.
- Pastorello EA, Vieths S, Pravettoni V, Farioli L, Trambaioli C, Fortunato D, et al. Identification of hazelnut major allergens in sensitive patients with positive double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge results. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002;109(3):563-70.
- Gruehn S, Suphioglu C, O'Hehir RE, Volkmann D. Molecular cloning and characterization of hazel pollen protein (70 kD) as a luminal binding protein (BiP): a novel cross-reactive plant allergen. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2003;131(2):91-100.
- Gangl K, Niederberger V, Valenta R, Nandy A. Marker allergens and panallergens in tree and grass pollen allergy. Allergo Journal International. 2015;24(5):158-69.
- Varasteh A-R, Moghadam M, Vahedi F, Kermani T, Sankian M. Cloning and expression of the allergen Cro s 2 profilin from saffron (Crocus sativus). Allergology International. 2009;58(3):429-35.