Analysis of helper T cell responses to Cry j 1-derived peptides in patients with nasal allergy: candidate for peptide-based immunotherapy of Japanese cedar pollinosis.
BACKGROUND
Allergen specific immunotherapy is highly effective, but adverse events may occur during treatment. Peptide-based immunotherapy has been proposed as one of new strategies for reduction of allergic adverse reactions. We examined the possibility of candidate peptides for the development of peptide-based immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis.


METHODS
Twelve Cry j 1-specific T-cell lines were established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 12 patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis. Using these T-cell lines, 37 Cry j 1-derived overlapping peptides were assessed for their proliferative responses and cytokine production.


RESULTS
Four peptides corresponding to the Cry j 1 sequence were able to induce proliferative responses to more than one T-cell line: p61-80 (3/12; 25.0%); p115-132 (2/12; 16.6%); p206-225 (4/12; 33.3%); and p337-353 (5/12; 41.7%). Furthermore, T-cell lines generated from 11 of 12 donors (91.7%) responded to at least one of these four peptides. On the other hand, the pattern of cytokine production from Cry j 1-specific T-cell lines varied. Moreover, cytokine production patterns by stimulation with Cry j 1 peptide did not reflect those by stimulation with Cry j 1 protein.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest four Cry j 1-derived peptides (p61-80, p115-132, p206-225 and p337-353) may be considered to be the immunodominant T-cell epitopes of the Cry j 1 molecule, and can be useful for the design of peptide-based immunotherapy for the management of Japanese cedar pollinosis.
Masuyama
Keisuke
K
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan. mkeisuke@yamanashi.ac.jp
Chikamatsu
Kazuaki
K
Ikagawa
Shuji
S
Matsuoka
Tomokazu
T
Takahashi
Goro
G
Yamamoto
Takanori
T
Endo
Shuichiro
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002460:Cell Line; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C065290:Cry j I protein, Cryptomeria japonica; D016207:Cytokines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010940:Plant Proteins