Implications of the grass group I allergens on the sensitization and provocation process.
Grass pollen allergens of group I are particularly important because of their high IgE prevalence and occurrence in all grass species. Four independent IgE-binding regions and one continous epitope were identified. The posttranslational modifications on the molecule increased allergenicity. Phl p 1 is a cysteine protease, as determined by specific substrates, inhibitors and consensus sequence motifs. In analogy to other allergens and/or proteases, we deduce that Phl p 1 might enhance the permeability of the epithelium, influence T helper cells to bias Th2, and increase the IgE production of plasma cells. Thus, the group I allergens seem to be the crucial components in a pollen extract which can mediate sensitization and enhance the triggering of symptoms leading to the persistence of a grass pollen allergy.
Petersen
A
A
Forschungszentrum Borstel, Biochemische und Molekulare Allergologie, Borstel, Germany. apeters@fz-borstel.de
Grobe
K
K
Schramm
G
G
Vieths
S
S
Altmann
F
F
Schlaak
M
M
Becker
W M
WM
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011058:Pollen; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; C090396:PHLPI protein, Phleum pratense; D007073:Immunoglobulin E