Plant chitinase III Ziz m 1 stimulates multiple cytokines, most predominantly interleukin-13, from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of latex-fruit allergic patients

The biological function of chitinase activity is required for Ziz m 1 to induce a Th2-specific immune response. This is the first report on PBMC responses of latex-fruit syndrome subjects toward an active exogenous plant class III chitinase that can stimulate multiple cytokines, especially IL-13, from allergic subjects. This implies the role of cross-reactive food allergens in propagating allergic inflammation among allergic subjects.