Oat sensitivity

Oat sensitivity represents a sensitivity to the proteins found in oats, Avena sativa. Sensitivity to oats as a result of allergy or to the seed storage proteins either inhaled or ingested. A more complex condition results to individuals who have gluten-sensitive enteropathy in which there is also a response to avenin, the glutinous protein in oats similar to the gluten within wheat.

Oat allergy

Studies on farmers with grain dust allergy and children with atopy dermatitis reveal that oat proteins can act as both respiratory and skin allergens. Oat-dust sensitivity in farms found 53% showed reactivity to dust second only to barley (70%) and almost double that of wheat dust. The 66 kDa protein in oats was visualized by 28 out of 33 sera (84%), however, there was evident non-specific binding to this region and thus it may also represent lectin-like binding. However, IgA and IgG responses, like those seen to anti-gliadin antibodies in celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis, are not seen to avenins in atopic dermatitis patients. Food allergies to oats can accompany atopy dermatitis. Oat avenins share similarities with γ and ω-gliadins of wheat, based on these similarities they could potentiate both enteropathic response and anaphylactic responses. Oat allergy in gluten-sensitive enteropathy can explain an avenin sensitive individual who no histological abnormality, no T-cell reaction to avenin, bore the rarer DQ2.5trans phenotype and had anaphylactic reaction to avenin.