The Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 2 allergen contains a universally immunogenic T cell epitope.
The use of T cell epitope-containing peptides for the induction of anergy in allergen sensitization is limited by genetic restriction that could be circumvented by using universally immunogenic epitopes. We attempted to identify such epitopes on Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 2 allergen (Der p 2), a major allergen of D. pteronyssinus T cells from BALB/c (H-2(d)), C57BL/6 (H-2(b)), C3H (H-2(k)), and SJL (H-2(s)) mice that were immunized with rDer p 2, recognized an immunodominant region encompassing residues 21-35. A synthetic 21-35 peptide (p21-35) induced strong dose-dependent in vitro T cell proliferation with cells of the four mouse strains and required processing for MHC class II presentation. Substitution of Ile(28) with Ala resulted in reduction of T cell proliferation in each strain. Ile(28) could represent an important MHC class II anchoring residue for T cell response to p21-35. An immunodominant T cell epitope of Der p 2 therefore behaves as a universal epitope and could be a suitable candidate for T cell anergy induction.
Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Bo
B
Wu
Luc Vander
LV
Elst
Vincent
V
Carlier
Marc G
MG
Jacquemin
Jean-Marie R
JM
Saint-Remy
D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D006239:Haplotypes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D007532:Isoleucine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D016207:Cytokines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006023:Glycoproteins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D007532:Isoleucine