Determination of potential allergenic proteins and morphology of Birch (Betula alba), Anatolian Oak (Quercus ithaburensis) and Linden (Tilia cordata) Pollens in Gaziantep

Allergic disease is a major public health concern in the modern societies. Wind-mediated spreading pollens are important aeroallergens. When they are released to atmosphere in sufficient amount, they can cause the development of diseases such as asthma, rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis etc. in allergically hypersensitive individuals. The spreading of pollens are affected by their amount in the air, their structures, geographic areas and the climate. Therefore, the amount of pollens that hypersensitive individuals who live in different regions are exposed to may differ and different allergic reactions may ocur in effected individuals. The high amount of pollen production enhance the pollen sensitivity. Thus the research on region-spesific allergenic effects of species becomes important. Pollens of birch (Betula alba), Anatolian oak (Quercus ithaburensis) and linden (Tilia cordata) are the important allergen sources in Gaziantep region. Pollen allergens are water soluble, stable proteins or glycoproteins of molecular weight between 5-80 kDa. A single pollen type usually contains tens of different allergens. Pollens from birch (B.alba), Anatolian oak (Q.ithaburensis) and linden (T.cordata) were collected in pollination period and their extracts were prepared. For determination of pollen morphologies were prepared slides Wodehouse's method used taken under light microscopy photos. Total consantrations of potential allergen proteins were determined from prepared pollen extracts through the use of BCA method. In this study we aimed to prepare extracts of pollens from birch (B.alba), Anatolian oak (Q.ithaburensis) and linden (T.cordata) widely deployed in wooded areas of Gaziantep University for studies of allergy and use for diagnosing allergic diseases. Key Words: Tree pollen allergy, Tilia cordata, Quercus ithaburensis, Betula alba, pollen extracts