Preclinical evaluation of an immunotherapeutic peptide comprising 7 T-cell determinants of Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, the major Japanese cedar pollen allergens.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Peptide immunotherapy is a new approach to treating allergic diseases, but a therapeutic peptide for Japanese cedar pollinosis has not yet been developed.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study is to prepare and preclinically evaluate a hybrid peptide comprising 7 T-cell determinants of Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, the major Japanese cedar pollen allergens.

METHODS:

The recombinant hybrid peptide was prepared after immunodominance of 7 T-cell determinants was confirmed by means of PBMC proliferation assay in 113 volunteers with pollinosis. The hybrid peptide was compared with a mixture of the 7 T-cell determinants in a dose-dependent PBMC proliferation assay in 6 volunteers with pollinosis. PBMC proliferation and binding activity of serum IgE antibody against the hybrid peptide, Cry j 1, and Cry j 2 were investigated in 48 volunteers with pollinosis.

RESULTS:

The hybrid peptide induced T-cell proliferation with an average 100-fold lower concentration than a mixture of the 7 peptides. PBMCs from 44 (92%) of 48 volunteers proliferated against the hybrid peptide, with significant correlation (r = 0.87) in T-cell proliferation against Cry j 1 and Cry j 2. No serum IgE antibodies specific to Cry j 1 or Cry j 2 bound to the hybrid peptide.

CONCLUSION:

A hybrid peptide comprising 7 T-cell determinants has the potential for inducing T-cell proliferative responses that is superior to the potential of a mixture of the T-cell determinants and comparable with that of Cry j 1 and Cry j 2. The hybrid peptide will be of use in specific immunotherapy against Japanese cedar pollinosis.

• Authors: K Hirahara, T Tatsuta, T Takatori, M Ohtsuki, H Kirinaka, J Kawaguchi, N Serizawa, Y Taniguchi, S Saito, M Sakaguchi, S Inouye, A Shiraishi
• Journal: The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology (J Allergy Clin Immunol) Vol. 108 Issue 1 Pg. 94-100 (Jul 2001) ISSN: 0091-6749 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11447388 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Antigens, Plant
• Cry j I protein, Cryptomeria japonica
• Cry j II protein, Cryptomeria japonica
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
• Peptides
• Plant Proteins
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Adult
• Allergens (genetics, immunology)
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Antigens, Plant
• Cells, Cultured
• Desensitization, Immunologic
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (immunology)
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Male
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Peptides (genetics, immunology)
• Plant Proteins (genetics, immunology)
• Pollen (genetics, immunology)
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins (immunology)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (immunology, therapy)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Trees (immunology)