title: Host genetic and adjuvant factors influence epitope specificity to a major recombinant grass allergen.
abstract: The role of host genetic and adjuvant factors in the induction of immune responses to a major recombinant Kentucky bluegrass allergen was examined utilizing five strains of mice and two different adjuvants. Analysis of the recombinant allergen-specific antibodies induced in these strains indicated that the antibodies of various isotypes were differentially regulated. In terms of IgE antibody response, BDF1 and DBA/2 were characterized as high responder, whereas BALB/C, CBA/J and C57BL/6 were intermediate and SJL was a low responder. In different strains, both dextran sulfate (DS) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), as adjuvants, induced recombinant allergen-specific IgE antibodies of similar titer, however, CFA induced higher IgG2a and lower IgM antibodies compared to DS. Further, analysis of T cell proliferative responses of the splenocytes of different strains demonstrated that these strains varied also in their capacity to respond to synthetic peptides. Furthermore, utilizing a panel of synthetic peptides corresponding to the recombinant allergen, we demonstrated that the antibodies induced by the recombinant allergen with CFA in different strains vary with respect to their epitope specificity. In the BDF1 strain, compared to DS, CFA as adjuvant induced recombinant allergen-specific antibodies of additional peptide specificity. Taken together, these results suggest that both host genetic background and adjuvants govern the fine specificity of antibodies produced against this recombinant Kentucky bluegrass allergen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mohapatra
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000485:Allergens; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010455:Peptides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E