Immunodominance of seven regions of a major allergen, Cry j 2, of Japanese cedar pollen for T-cell immunity.
The immunodominant regions of the Japanese cedar pollen allergen Cry j 2 for T-cell immunity were determined with whole peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) derived from seven allergic patients and three nonallergic subjects. Cry j 2-stimulated T-cell proliferation was inhibited by anti-HLA-DR, but not by anti-HLA-DQ antibody, indicating that the responding T cells recognized the allergen peptides associated with HLA-DR molecules. It was found that seven regions of Cry j 2, i.e., regions corresponding to amino acid numbers 1-26, 70-84, 151-167, 187-203, 252-279, 283-314, and 345-362, were immunodominant for T-cell proliferation. Thus, Cry j 2 bears a limited number of immunodominant regions despite polymorphic features of HLA-DR in the immune system. This suggests the possibility of molecularly designing Cry j 2 antagonists that could downregulate allergic reactions to Japanese cedar pollen.
Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Engineering, Kagoshima University, Japan.
S
S
Hashiguchi
K
K
Hino
Y
Y
Taniguchi
M
M
Kurimoto
K
K
Fukuda
M
M
Ohyama
T
T
Fujiyoshi
S
S
Sonoda
Y
Y
Nishimura
G
G
Yamada
K
K
Sugimura
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
C065291:Cry j II protein, Cryptomeria japonica; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D010940:Plant Proteins