title: A B Cell Epitope Peptide Derived from the Major Grass Pollen Allergen Phl p 1 Boosts Allergen-Specific Secondary Antibody Responses without Allergen-Specific T Cell Help.
abstract: More than 40% of allergic patients suffer from grass pollen allergy. Phl p 1, the major timothy grass pollen allergen, belongs to the cross-reactive group 1 grass pollen allergens that are thought to initiate allergic sensitization to grass pollen. Repeated allergen encounter boosts allergen-specific IgE production and enhances clinical sensitivity in patients. To investigate immunological mechanisms underlying the boosting of allergen-specific secondary IgE Ab responses and the allergen epitopes involved, a murine model for Phl p 1 was established. A B cell epitope-derived peptide of Phl p 1 devoid of allergen-specific T cell epitopes, as recognized by BALB/c mice, was fused to an allergen-unrelated carrier in the form of a recombinant fusion protein and used for sensitization. This fusion protein allowed the induction of allergen-specific IgE Ab responses without allergen-specific T cell help. Allergen-specific Ab responses were subsequently boosted with molecules containing the B cell epitope-derived peptide without carrier or linked to other allergen-unrelated carriers. Oligomeric peptide bound to a carrier different from that which had been used for sensitization boosted allergen-specific secondary IgE responses without a detectable allergen-specific T cell response. Our results indicate that allergen-specific secondary IgE Ab responses can be boosted by repetitive B cell epitopes without allergen-specific T cell help by cross-linking of the B cell epitope receptor. This finding has important implications for the design of new allergy vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; and.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; and.
authors.forename: Raphaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freidl
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; and.
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Focke-Tejkl
authors.affiliation: Section of Transplantation Immunology, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baranyi
authors.affiliation: Section of Transplantation Immunology, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5159-2796
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wekerle
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; and.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; and birgit.linhart@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linhart
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C090396:PHLPI protein, Phleum pratense; D007073:Immunoglobulin E