title: Phage-displayed Bet mim 1, a mimotope of the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, induces B cell responses to the natural antigen using bystander T cell help.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In previous studies we have generated mimotopes of Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen, by biopannings of phage-display random peptide libraries. In the present study, we analysed the humoral and cellular immune response to Bet v 1-mimotopes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mimotope CFPYCYPSESA, designated Bet mim 1, was used for intraperitoneal immunizations of BALB/c mice in phage-displayed form. For examination of the humoral immune response, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) experiments were applied. Stimulation capacities were investigated in cultured mouse splenocytes and in humoral Bet v 1-specific T cell clones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that the Bet mim 1-induced murine antibody response against Bet v 1 was predominated by the IgG1 isotype. In these mice only the phage-displayed mimotopes, but neither the allergen nor the synthetic Bet mim 1-mimotopes were able to stimulate proliferation of cultured splenocytes. Using Bet v 1-specific T cell clones of allergic patients, phage-displayed and synthetic mimotopes were unable to stimulate T cell proliferation. Moreover, tolerance induction to Bet v 1 in mice by intranasal administration of Bet mim 1-phages or Bet mim 1-peptide failed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking these results together, our data indicate that Bet mim 1 mimics a Bet v 1-epitope on the B cell but not on the T cell level. We suggest that the phage itself is responsible for the recruitment of T cells providing bystander help in the formation of a mimotope-specific humoral response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schöll
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wiedermann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Förster-Waldl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ganglberger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boltz-Nitulescu
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scheiner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jensen-Jarolim
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001435:Bacteriophages; D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010940:Plant Proteins; C061312:Bet v 1 allergen, Betula