title: T cell epitopes in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen allergens: choice of major T cell epitopes in Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 toward design of the peptide-based immunotherapeutics for the management of Japanese cedar pollinosis.
abstract: Japanese cedar pollinosis is caused by exposure to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, of which two components, Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, are believed to be the major allergens. T cell lines specific to either Cry j 1 or rCry j 2 were reactive to various portions of each panel of overlapping peptides derived from Cry j 1 or Cry j 2. Two peptides, p211-225 and p108-120, from among six major T cell epitopes identified in Cry j 1 sequence, and three peptides, p182-200, p344-355, and p66-80, from among five in Cry j 2, were chosen to design an artificial polypeptide (named Cry-consensus) based on a difference among the types of the restriction molecules capable of presenting these peptides. After construction of a DNA encoding these peptides in order, Cry-consensus was expressed in Escherichia coli. Five of six T cell epitopes, except for Cry j 2 p344-355, in Cry-consensus were recognized by the T cell clones specific to each peptide. PBMC from allergic patients induced higher proliferation under stimulation from Cry-consensus than individual peptides. Eighty-eight percent of the PBMC (15 of 17) showed proliferation under the Cry-consensus stimulation. Thus, several major T cell epitopes from Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 can be chosen in the design of peptide-based immunotherapeutics for the management of Japanese cedar pollinosis in subjects having various types of HLA class II molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Research, Meiji Institute of Health Science, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morikubo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komiyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsunoo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001483:Base Sequence; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002460:Cell Line; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C065290:Cry j I protein, Cryptomeria japonica; C065291:Cry j II protein, Cryptomeria japonica; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006680:HLA Antigens; D010455:Peptides; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E