title: Definition of a pool of epitopes that recapitulates the T cell reactivity against major house dust mite allergens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergens from house dust mites (HDM) are a common cause of asthma. Der p and Der f from Dermatophagoides sp. are strong immunogens in humans. Allergen extracts are used to study T helper (Th2) cell responses to HDM, which are implicated in the development and regulation of allergic disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define an epitope mixture that recapitulates, and might substitute for, HDM extract in terms of detecting and characterizing Th2 cell responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 52 HDM allergic and 10 non-allergic individuals were stimulated with HDM extracts and assayed with a set of 178 peptides spanning mite allergens group Der p 1, 2, 23 and Der f group 1 and 2 allergens. A pool of the most dominant T cell epitopes identified in the present study and from published literature was assembled and tested for ex vivo T cell responses. Correlation with HDM-specific IgE titres was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patterns of T cell reactivity to Der p and Der f - derived peptides revealed a large number of epitopes. Clear patterns of immunodominance were apparent, with HDM allergen group 1 and 2 dominant over group 23. Furthermore, within a given antigen, 6-11 epitopes accounted for the vast majority of responses. Based on these results and published data, a comprehensive dust mite pool (DMP) of epitopes was designed and found to allow detection of ex vivo T cell responses. DMP ex vivo reactivity correlated with HDM-specific IgE titres and was similar to that detected with commonly used HDM extracts. Ex vivo DMP stimulation was associated with a predominant Th2 response in allergic donors, and minor reactivity of T cells producing IFNÎ³, IL17 and IL10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A detailed map of Der p and Der f antigens defined a pool of epitopes that can be used to detect ex vivo HDM responses.
authors: Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Hinz
authors: Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Oseroff
authors: Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pham
authors: Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sidney
authors: Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Peters
authors: Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sette
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D039981:Pyroglyphidae; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D010455:Peptides
keywords: T cell reactivity; dust mite allergy; epitope identification
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