title: T cell epitopes of the major fraction of rye grass Lolium perenne (Lol p I) defined using overlapping peptides in vitro and in vivo. I. Isoallergen clone1A.
abstract: One hundred and fifteen overlapping synthetic peptides spanning the entire sequence of the iso-allergen clone1A of Lol p I from rye grass Lolium perenne were synthesized by the multi-pin technique. The peptides were overlapping 12mers, offset by two residues and overlapping by 10 residues. Sets of six adjacent overlapping peptides (except pool-1, 15, 20) were pooled and were used in vitro and in vivo to map the T cell epitopes on Lol p I. Six atopics who were skin test and RAST positive to rye grass showed T cell responses to L. perenne extract (LPE) and its major fraction (Lol p I). Five out of six showed T cell responses in vitro to peptide pool-17, while five non-atopics did not respond to any of the peptide pools. By testing the individual peptides of pool-17, we have located the T cell epitope on Lol p I. Interestingly, when we tested pool-17 and its single peptides in vivo by intradermal skin testing we found in one patient a typical DTH after 24-48 h to pool-17 and its peptides (peptides 3 and 4) which exactly matched the in vitro responses. By defining the T cell epitopes in this way a greater understanding of the allergic response to pollen will be obtained, and a more effective and less dangerous vaccine may be possible for treating patients with hay fever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bungy Poor Fard
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Latchman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geysen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roitt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brostoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008129:Lolium / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D000939:Epitopes; C042814:Lol p I protein, Lolium perenne; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E