title: Cloning and expression of the cyclophilin Bet v 7, and analysis of immunological cross-reactivity among the cyclophilin A family.
abstract: Allergic symptoms in sensitized individuals are caused by proteins named allergens. We report here the cloning and the production of the cyclophilin Bet v 7, one of the birch pollen allergens. Recombinant Bet v 7 was produced in bacteria and used to raise a rabbit anti-Bet v 7 antiserum. With this antiserum we detected cyclophilin A in several pollen species and we demonstrated immunological cross-reactivity among those plant cyclophilins A by immunoblot and ELISA inhibition experiments. However, we could not detect cyclophilins in extracts of animal or mould origin with our anti-Bet v 7 antiserum. By inhibition experiments with purified mould cyclophilins, we confirmed the absence of cross-reactivity between plant cyclophilins and non-plant cyclophilins. In addition, our results indicate that the level of immunological cross-reactivity correlates with the level of sequence identity among the cyclophilin A family. This allowed us to define the plant cyclophilin A sub-family as being immunologically distinct, which might have implications at the clinical level in the allergy practice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, Catholic University of Leuven, University Hospital, Gasthuisberg O & N, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. pascal.cadot@med.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cadot
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nelles
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srahna
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dilissen
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ceuppens
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D029662:Betula / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D021984:Cyclophilin A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000906:Antibodies; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C405762:Bet v 7 protein, Betula verrucosa; D010940:Plant Proteins; D021984:Cyclophilin A