Celery allergy and the newly found allergen Api g 7
What it found
Celery allergy is common in Europe, and a newly found celery protein called Api g 7 may explain why some people test negative on standard tests yet still react badly.
The work draws on patient studies and lab findings.
What they found
Studies in people
Api g 7 is common
In one study of 79 patients, about 52% made antibodies against Api g 7. Another small study found all eight celery-allergic patients tested positive for it.
Severe reactions linked
People with antibodies to Api g 7 were six times more likely to have severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, than celery-allergic people without these antibodies.
Tests miss Api g 7
No commercial test, including ImmunoCAP, ISAC or ALEX, can detect antibodies against Api g 7. Some patients with Api g 7 antibodies test negative on celery extract tests.
Studies in people and animals
Cross-reaction with mugwort
Api g 7 is structurally similar to Art v 1, a mugwort pollen allergen, which may explain why celery allergy often comes with mugwort allergy. This similarity was shown in lab studies of proteins.
Heat stable protein
Api g 7 stays stable at about 100 °C, and allergic reactions have been reported after eating cooked celery in people sensitive to it.
Other celery allergens
Celery contains several other allergens, including Api g 1, Api g 2, Api g 4, Api g 5 and Api g 6, which vary in how stable they are to heat and digestion and in how often people react to them.
What the authors conclude
“Therefore, the development of commercial assays capable of detecting sIgE against Api g 7 would be of considerable clinical value.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that developing commercial tests that can detect antibodies against Api g 7 would be of considerable clinical value.
- They advise that further research is needed to find more risk factors for anaphylaxis and to better understand cross-reactions in people sensitive to defensin-like proteins.
How it was done
Doctors struggle to diagnose celery allergy accurately, and some people who react to celery get negative results on the usual tests. The authors wanted to see whether a newly discovered celery allergen could improve diagnosis.
The authors reviewed published studies on celery allergens and diagnostic tests, including studies of patients with confirmed celery allergy who were tested for antibodies against Api g 7 and other celery proteins.
What it can’t tell you
- This is a review of other studies, so it cannot prove that Api g 7 directly causes severe reactions.
- The studies it describes were small, and some findings may not apply to all people with celery allergy.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
- Authors work at
- Jan Biziel University Hospital No. 2 in Bydgoszcz, Poland; Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland
The paper
- Title
- Current State of Celery Allergy: Is Discovering Api g 7 a Milestone in Diagnosing Celeriac-Allergic Patients?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Kosztulska B, Bartuzi Z, Ukleja-Sokołowska N (2025). Current State of Celery Allergy: Is Discovering Api g 7 a Milestone in Diagnosing Celeriac-Allergic Patients?. International journal of molecular sciences. doi:10.3390/ijms26125840Free full textPubMed 40565300DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error