T-cell response in penicillin allergy.
Drugs, such as antibiotics, become immunogenic only upon binding to proteins. Among beta-lactams, penicillins constitute a typical example of allergy inducing drugs in humans. Previous work on their immunological properties focused mainly on the examination of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. However, drug-specific T-cell reactions are also involved in causing a serious allergic inflammatory response. The experimental data on the reactivity of T cells with penicillin G point to penicilloyl-modified, MHC-associated peptides as T-cell epitopes. The recognition specificity of the respective T-cell receptors appears to be directed at both, the backbone and the specific side-chain of penicillin. In contrast, the sequence of the carrier peptides contribute as holder for the haptenic determinant.
Max Planck Institut für Immunobiologie, Freiburg, Germany.
E
E
Padovan
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D010406:Penicillins