title: Characterization of ovomucoid-specific T-cell lines and clones from egg-allergic subjects.
abstract: In the pathogenesis of allergic reactions, T cells and cytokines play a major role. However, characterizations of food allergen-specific T cells are very limited. In this study, we screened the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 14 patients for reactivity to ovomucoid (Gal d I), the major hen's egg allergen, and ovalbumin (Gal d II). Cell lines and clones specific to ovomucoid were generated from PBMC of four egg-allergic subjects, in order to study antigen domain specificity and cell cytokine production profiles. The results demonstrated, firstly, that egg-allergic patients respond to ovomucoid rather than to ovalbumin, and, secondly, that antigen specificity is predominantly directed toward the second and third domains of ovomucoid. The T-cell cytokine message was characterized by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell lines and clones from all four patients consistently expressed interleukin (IL)-5. IL-4, IL-13, and interferon-gamma were found to be expressed only by certain lines or clones. This observation suggests a central pathogenic role for IL-5 in food allergy-related symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Eigenmann
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Sampson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002999:Clone Cells; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D004531:Eggs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010059:Ovomucin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010059:Ovomucin; D010047:Ovalbumin