Characterization of T cell responses to Hev b 3, an allergen associated with latex allergy in spina bifida patients.
The prevalence of type I allergy to Hevea brasiliensis latex is particularly high among individuals with frequent exposure such as health care workers and patients with spina bifida (SB). Due to a birth defect of the spinal canal and the resulting neurological and orthopedic defects, these patients require multiple surgeries during childhood. SB patients display a unique pattern of sensitization: IgE-reactivity is preferentially directed against Hev b 3 and Hev b 1, two latex allergens with high sequence similarity. In this study, we analyzed the T cell response to Hev b 3 in latex-allergic SB patients using poly-, oligo-, and monoclonal T lymphocyte cultures. All T cell clones (TCC) were CD3/CD4-positive and expressed the alphabeta TCR. According to their cytokine production pattern (IL-4 vs IFN-gamma), 12 of 21 TCC were classified as Th2-like, 2 of 21 were Th1-like, and 7 of 21 belonged to a Th0-like subset. Using 11 T cell lines and 21 TCC, nine T cell stimulating fragments were determined out of 52 overlapping 12-mer peptides representing the complete amino acid sequence of Hev b 3. Ag presentation of one dominant T cell epitope could be associated with a four-amino acid binding motif (YSTS, position 11-13) in the beta 1 chain of HLA-DR molecules expressed by the respective patients. No reactivity was observed when Hev b 3-reactive T cell lines or TCC were incubated with peptides representing homologous parts of the Hev b 1 molecule, i.e., no cross-reactivity between Hev b 3 and Hev b 1 at the T cell level was evident.
Bohle
B
B
Departments of General and Experimental Pathology, Pediatrics, and Blood Group Serology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Wagner
B
B
Vollmann
U
U
Buck
D
D
Niggemann
B
B
Szépfalusi
Z
Z
Fischer
G
G
Scheiner
O
O
Breiteneder
H
H
Ebner
C
C
D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010940:Plant Proteins; C061477:REF protein, Hevea brasiliensis; D007073:Immunoglobulin E