title: Induction of allergen-specific T cells by conjugates of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and rye grass pollen extract.
abstract: A conjugate of the biologically active peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and rye grass pollen extract (F-MLP/rye), previously shown to react with rye grass pollen extract-specific T cells, induced the formation of allergen-specific T cells in mice. Lymph node cells prepared from mice immunized with either native extract or F-MLP/rye gave an enhanced response to unmodified rye grass pollen allergens in vitro. Syngeneic spleen macrophages were able to present the unmodified allergens to T cells obtained from both groups of mice causing their proliferation in vitro. Conjugation of the peptide into the extract brought about an extensive reduction in its reactivity with grass pollen-specific human IgE, and a loss of its ability to induce specific IgG antibody in guinea-pigs. A state of delayed hypersensitivity specific for rye grass pollen extract was produced in guinea-pigs by immunization with either the F-MLP/rye or unmodified extract. It is concluded that conjugates such as F-MLP/rye or other T' allergoids could be used as probes to investigate whether changes in T cell activity are important in immunotherapy.
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012434:Secale / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C042814:Lol p I protein, Lolium perenne; D010940:Plant Proteins; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine