title: Allergy-associated T cell epitope repertoires are surprisingly diverse and include non-IgE reactive antigens.
abstract: We recently identified T cell epitopes associated with human allergic responses. In a majority of cases, responses focused on a few immunodominant epitopes which can be predicted on the basis of MHC binding characteristics. Several observations from our studies challenged the assumption that T cell epitopes are derived from the same allergen proteins that bind IgE. Transcriptomic and proteomics analysis identified pollen proteins, not bound by IgE. These novel Timothy Grass proteins elicited vigorous Th2 responses, suggesting that unlinked T cell help is operational in pollen-specific responses. Thus, the repertoire of antigens recognized by T cells is much broader than IgE-binding allergens. Additionally, we evaluated the use of epitopes from these novel antigens to assess immunological changes associated with Specific Immunotherapy (SIT). We found that a marked decrease in IL5 production is associated with clinically efficacious SIT, suggesting that these novel antigens are potential immunomarkers for SIT efficacy.
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frazier
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schulten
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hinz
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oseroff
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sidney
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
authors.forename: Bjoern
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sette
keywords: Cytokine; Epitopes; Specific immunotherapy; T cells; Timothy grass