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Characterization of the T‐cell epitopes of a major peanut allergen, Ara h 2
Author(s) -
Glaspole I. N.,
De Leon M. P.,
Rolland J. M.,
O'Hehir R. E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2004.00608.x
Subject(s) - epitope , cytokine , immunotherapy , allergen , immunology , peanut allergy , t cell , immunoglobulin e , allergy , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , immune system , antibody
Background: The development of safe and effective immunotherapy for peanut allergy has been complicated by the high anaphylactic potential of native peanut extracts. We sought to map the T‐cell epitopes of the major peanut allergen, Ara h 2 in order to develop T‐cell targeted vaccines. Methods: A panel of eight peanut‐specific CD4+ T‐cell lines (TCL) was derived from eight peanut‐allergic subjects and proliferative and cytokine responses to stimulation with a set of overlapping 20‐mer peptides representing the entire sequence of Ara h 2 determined. Proliferation was assessed in 72 h assays via tritiated thymidine incorporation, while interleukin (IL)‐5 and interferon (IFN)‐ γ production were assessed via sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of cell culture supernatants. Results: Eight of the 17 Ara h 2 peptides were recognized by one or more subjects, with the two peptides showing highest reactivity [Ara h 2 (19–38) and Ara h 2 (73–92)] being recognized by three subjects each. Adjoining peptides Ara h 2 (28–47) and Ara h 2 (100–119) induced proliferative responses in two subjects. Each of these peptides was associated with a Th2‐type cytokine response. Conclusion: Two highly immunogenic T‐cell reactive regions of Ara h 2 have been identified, Ara h 2 (19–47) and Ara h 2 (73–119), providing scope for the development of safe forms of immunotherapy for peanut allergy.