title: Germline TCR-A restriction of immunoglobulin E responses to allergen.
abstract: Immunoglobulin E responses to known environmental antigens (allergens) may serve as a general model to investigate germline genetic restriction of the immune response. We have previously shown genetic linkage between IgE responses to major allergens and the T-cell receptor (TCR) A/D locus, but not to TCR-B, implying that elements in TCR A/D restrict the ability to react to specific antigens. We now show, in two sets of subjects from the same population, a strong allelic association between a VA8.1 polymorphism (VA8.1(*)2) and reactivity to Der p II, a major antigenic component of the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Association was also seen between Der p II IgE titres and HLA-DRB1(*)1501 alleles. Reactivity to Der p II was confined to subjects who were positive for VA8.1(*)2 and HLA-DRB1(*)1501, demonstrating germline HLA-DR and TCR-A interaction in restricting the response to exogenous antigen.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, England.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schou
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Faux
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Cookson
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D007073:Immunoglobulin E