title: Regulation of the immune response to allergens by immunosuppressive allergenic fragments. 1. Peptic fragments of honey bee venom phospholipase A2.
abstract: Nine patients with anaphylactic sensitivity to honey bee venom (HBV) were treated with P-1, a pepsin derived fragment of HBV phospholipase A2 (PLA2). P-1 caused only rare reactions with doses of 100 micrograms/injection. Treatment resulted in a substantial decrease in specific anti-PLA2 IgE and IgG antibodies as well as a decline in skin test sensitivity to PLA2. Another group of HBV-sensitive patients was treated with unaltered PLA2. Doses greater than 20 micrograms/injection were not tolerated. PLA2 injections caused an increase in anti-PLA2 IgG and IgE antibodies as well as increase in skin test sensitivity. This study demonstrates that a nonimmunogenic fragment derived from an allergen can downregulate immune responses and thus offer a new modality for therapy of allergic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Litwin
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Michael
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010434:Pepsin A; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D001514:Bee Venoms; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010740:Phospholipases; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D010434:Pepsin A