Differential protein expression by dendritic cells from atopic and non-atopic individuals after stimulation by the major house dust mite allergen Der p 1.
BACKGROUND
Dendritic cells (DCs) are sentinels of the immune system and are known to play a key role in allergic responses. However, it is not clear how DCs that have been exposed to an allergen support Th2 type immune responses. It is possible that DCs from atopic individuals are inherently programmed to support allergic disease, or it is the exposure of dendritic cells to allergens that is key to the development of allergic sensitisation.


METHODS
We used 2D gel electrophoresis and MALDI mass spectrometry to compare the proteome of DCs from atopic and non-atopic individuals in both the resting state and after stimulation with the major house dust mite allergen Der p 1.


RESULTS
Our data show that unstimulated DCs from atopic and non-atopic individuals are very similar at the whole cell proteome level, showing few differentially expressed proteins. However, upon stimulation with Der p 1, a number of additional proteins are differentially expressed, and of these several were of potential relevance to Th2 cell differentiation and the allergic response, including GTP-binding regulatory protein Gi alpha-2, frabin and cathepsin D.


CONCLUSIONS
Whilst there are inherent differences between DCs from atopic and non-atopic individuals, it seems that exposure to allergen plays a key role in differential expression of proteins by these key immune cells. Further studies should now focus on establishing the biological relevance of these proteins as biomarkers in house dust mite allergy and their role in allergen induced Th2 cell differentiation.
Horlock
C
C
Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, School of Molecular Medical Sciences and Biomedical Research Unit, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Shakib
F
F
Jones
N S
NS
Sewell
H F
HF
Ghaemmaghami
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D020543:Proteome; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; C485164:FGD4 protein, human; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1; D002402:Cathepsin D; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go