Relationship Between Serious Wheat Allergy Caused By Cutaneous Sensitization and Mutations in the Filaggrin Gene

Many cases of wheat allergy developing after use of a soap containing hydrolyzed wheat protein (Glupearl 19S (GP19S) used in “Cha no Shizuku”, Yuuka Co., Ltd.) have occurred in recent years in Japan. This allergy is thought to occur due to percutaneous sensitization, but its pathogenic mechanism has not yet been elucidated. On the other hand, loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene have been reported to be strongly associated with the onset of atopic dermatitis. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between the filaggrin gene, which affects skin barrier function, and this wheat allergy.