Core alpha1-->3-fucose is a common modification of N-glycans in parasitic helminths and constitutes an important epitope for IgE from Haemonchus contortus infected sheep.
Synthesis of parasite specific IgE plays a critical role in the defence against helminth infections. We report here that IgE from serum from Schistosoma mansoni infected mice and Haemonchus contortus infected sheep recognizes complex-type N-glycans from Arabidopsis thaliana, which contain R-GlcNAcbeta1-->4(Fucalpha1-->3)GlcNAcbeta1-Asn (core alpha1-->3-Fuc) and Xylbeta1-->2Manbeta1-->4GlcNAcbeta1-R (core beta1-->2-Xyl) modifications, and honeybee phospholipase A2, which carries N-glycans that contain the core alpha1-->3-Fuc epitope. Evidence is presented that core alpha1-->3-fucosylated N-glycans bind a substantial part of the parasite specific IgE in serum of H. contortus infected sheep. These results suggest that the core alpha1-->3-Fuc antigen may contribute to induction of a Th2 response leading to the production of IgE. In addition we show here that N-glycans carrying core alpha1-->3-Fuc and beta1-->2-Xyl antigens are synthesized by many parasitic helminths and also by the free living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Since N-glycans containing the core alpha1-->3-Fuc have also been implicated in honeybee and plant induced allergies, this conserved glycan might represent an important common IgE epitope.
van Die
I
I
Department of Medical Chemistry, Research Institute Immunology and Inflammatory diseases, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. im.van_die.medchem@med.vu.nl
Gomord
V
V
Kooyman
F N
FN
van den Berg
T K
TK
Cummings
R D
RD
Vervelde
L
L
D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000737:chemistry; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005643:Fucose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006188:Haemonchiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006189:Haemonchus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000737:chemistry; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011134:Polysaccharides; D005643:Fucose; D007073:Immunoglobulin E