Disease relevance of Cryptomeria

• OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine a role for carbohydrates expressed on Cry j 1, which is the major allergen of Cryptomeria japonica pollen and causes the most prevalent pollinosis in Japan, in in vitro cellular responses [1].
• Four of 51 dogs with chronic dermatitis were made to react to crude Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, CJ) pollen allergen by the intradermal skin test (IDST) [2].
• A cat showing seasonal allergic symptoms of rhinitis was examined for reactivities to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, CJ) pollen allergen by intradermal skin test (IDST), Prausnitz-Kustner (P-K) test, and lymphocyte blastogenic response [3].

High impact information on Cryptomeria

• Molecular cloning of a class IV chitinase allergen from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen and competitive inhibition of its immunoglobulin E-binding capacity by latex C-serum [4].
• A heartwood norlignan, (E)-hinokiresinol, is formed from 4-coumaryl 4-coumarate by a Cryptomeria japonica enzyme preparation [5].
• Previously, we isolated three TLP-encoding cDNAs (Cry j 3.1, Cry j 3.2 and Cry j 3.3) from a cDNA library derived from the pollen of Cryptomeria japonica D [6].
• T-cadinol and calamenene are sesquiterpenes isolated from the heartwood of Cryptomeria japonica and are pharmacologically active substances [7].
• Epicubenol and 19-hydroxyferruginol (Ferruginol) are sesquiterpenes isolated from the black heartwood of Cryptomeria japonica [8].

Biological context of Cryptomeria

• Seasonal changes in the xanthophyll cycle and antioxidants in sun-exposed and shaded parts of the crown of Cryptomeria japonica in relation to rhodoxanthin accumulation during cold acclimation [9].
• In the course of analyzing the partial amino acid sequences of Cry j I, a major allergen of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, we found a peptide fragment which has a significant homology to some pectate lyase isozymes secreted by plant pathogenic bacteria [10].
• Sugi basic protein (SBP), a major allergen of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, conjugated to pullulan (alpha-1,4'-, alpha-1,6'-glucan) reportedly suppresses IgE anti-SBP antibody production and enhances IgG anti-SBP antibody production in mice [11].
• In our previous study [Immunology 91 (1997) 161] using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to Cry j 1, a major allergen in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, we identified five independent epitopes (EP-1-EP-5) on the molecule and found that EP-1 and EP-5 are the predominant allergic epitopes for humans and monkeys, respectively [12].

Anatomical context of Cryptomeria

• Identification of peptides containing T-cell epitopes of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen allergen (Cry j 1) in dogs [13].

Associations of Cryptomeria with chemical compounds

• Isolation and partial characterization of the major allergen from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen [14].
• Cry jI, a major allergenic glycoprotein of Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar, Sugi), is the most common pollen allergen in Japan. Carbohydrate analysis and lectin staining indicated that Cry jI possesses the fucose/xylose-containing N-linked oligosaccharide which previously has been found in some plant glycoproteins [15].
• Phytosulfokine (PSK), which has been identified as a plant growth factor, had a dramatic stimulatory effect on the formation of somatic embryos of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) in the presence of polyethylene glycol [16].
• Abietane diterpenoids from the barks of Cryptomeria japonica [17].
• A diterpene quinone from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica [18].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Cryptomeria

• A diterpene, cryptoquinone, was isolated from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica, the structure, 7,11,14-trioxoabieta-8,12-diene, was established by spectral analyses and X-ray crystallography [18].

References