title: Cross-reactivity between major IgE core epitopes on Cry j 2 allergen of Japanese cedar pollen and relevant sequences on Cha o 2 allergen of Japanese cypress pollen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cry j 2 and Cha o 2 are major allergens in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica; CJ) and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa; CO) pollen, respectively. Here, we assessed the epitopes related to the cross-reactivity between Cry j 2 and Cha o 2 using in vitro analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peptides were synthesized based on Cry j 2 sequential epitopes and relevant Cha o 2 amino acid sequences. Four representative monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Cry j 2 were used according to their epitope recognitions. Serum samples were collected from 31 patients with CJ pollinosis. To investigate cross-reactivity between Cry j 2 and Cha o 2, ELISA and inhibition ELISA were performed with mAbs and sera from patients with CJ pollinosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two of four mAbs had reactivity to both Cry j 2 and Cha o 2. Of these two mAbs, one mAb (T27) recognized the amino acid sequence (169)KVVNGRTV(176) on Cha o 2. This is related to the core epitope (169)KWVNGREI(176) on Cry j 2, which is an important IgE epitope. In addition, we found that these correlative sequences and purified allergens showed cross-reactivity between Cry j 2 and Cha o 2 in IgE of CJ patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated the importance of (169)KVVNGRTV(176) in Cha o 2 for cross-reactivity with the Cry j 2 epitope (169)KWVNGREI(176), which plays an important role in allergenicity in CJ pollinosis. Our results are useful for the development of safer and more efficient therapeutic strategies for the treatment of CJ and CO pollen allergies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyaji
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Sagamihara Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Sagamihara Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasueda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takase
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidekatsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimakura
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of DNA Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Saburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan. Electronic address: sakagum@azabu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology*; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology*; D029781:Cupressus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C545025:Cha o 2 protein, Chamaecyparis obtusa; C065291:Cry j II protein, Cryptomeria japonica; D000939:Epitopes; D010455:Peptides; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergen; Cross-reactivity; Epitope; IgE; Pollen