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Characterization of the T cell response to the major hazelnut allergen, Cor a 1.04: evidence for a relevant T cell epitope not cross‐reactive with homologous pollen allergens
Author(s) -
Bohle B.,
Radakovics A.,
Lüttkopf D.,
JahnSchmid B.,
Vieths S.,
Ebner C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02332.x
Subject(s) - epitope , allergen , pollen , cross reactivity , immunology , immunoglobulin e , t cell , allergy , recombinant dna , biology , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , biochemistry , cross reactions , botany , immune system , gene
Summary Background IgE antibodies specific for the major birch‐pollen allergen, Bet v 1, cross‐react with homologous allergens in particular foods, e.g. apples, carrots and hazelnuts. In a high number of tree pollen‐allergic individuals, this cross‐reactivity causes clinical symptoms, commonly known as the ‘birch‐fruit‐syndrome’. Objective To characterize the T cell response to the Bet v 1‐related major allergen in hazelnuts, Cor a 1.04, and its cellular cross‐reactivity with Bet v 1 and the homologous hazel pollen allergen, Cor a 1. Methods Using recombinant Cor a 1.04, T cell lines (TCL) and T cell clones (TCC) were established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of tree pollen‐allergic patients with associated food allergy. T cell epitopes were determined using overlapping synthetic peptides in Cor a 1.04‐reactive TCL and TCC. In parallel, reactivity to Bet v 1 and Cor a 1 was tested. Results In total, 20 distinct T cell epitopes on the hazelnut allergen were identified. Several Cor a 1.04‐specific TCL and TCC reacted with pollen allergens albeit less pronounced than with the hazelnut allergen. Several Cor a 1.04‐specific TCC did not react with pollen allergens. Interestingly, these clones were found to react with the Bet v 1‐related major allergen in carrots, Dau c 1. The cellular cross‐reactivity between both food allergens could be associated with the most frequently recognized T cell epitope of Cor a 1.04, Cor a 1.04 142–153 . Conclusions The major hazelnut allergen cross‐reacts with the major allergens of birch and hazel pollen but apparently contains a relevant T cell epitope not shared with pollen allergens. Our finding may have important implications for the specific immunotherapy of tree pollen‐allergic patients suffering from concomitant hazelnut allergy.