Determinants of allergenicity Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, MD, Thilo Jakob, MD, Heidrun Behrendt, MD  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology  Volume 123, Issue 3, Pages 558-566 (March 2009) DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.12.003 Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Terms and Conditions

Fig 1 Determinants of allergic diseases. Allergy is the result of an orchestrated interplay of genetic predisposition and exposure to allergens and adjuvant environmental cofactors that leads to allergic sensitization, skin and airway hyperreactivity, and allergic disease. NADPH, Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; VOC, volatile organic compound; ETS, environmental tobacco smoke; MW, molecular weight. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2009 123, 558-566DOI: (10.1016/j.jaci.2008.12.003) Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Terms and Conditions

Fig 2 Interplay between the allergen source, environmental cofactors, and cells of the allergic immune response during exposure to pollen grains. In the context of type I allergy, pollens have generally been regarded as allergen carriers. Aside from allergens, pollens release many other substances with proinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects on cells of the allergic immune response. In addition, pollens can carry biogenic and anthropogenic factors that influence allergen release, generate novel allergenic epitopes, and modulate the epithelial microenvironment of an allergen encounter. NADPH, Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; ROS, reactive oxygen species; ECP, eosinophil cationic protein; MPO, myeloperoxidase. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2009 123, 558-566DOI: (10.1016/j.jaci.2008.12.003) Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Terms and Conditions