Native Art v 1 and recombinant Art v 1 are able to induce humoral and T cell-mediated in vitro and in vivo responses in mugwort allergy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Mugwort pollen is an important allergen source in hay fever and pollen-related food allergy. Little is known about the clinical relevance of the major mugwort allergen Art v 1 and its importance in allergy.

OBJECTIVE:

In this study we aimed to investigate the allergenicity of mugwort extract compared with the allergenicity of native (n)Art v 1 and recombinant (r)Art v 1, one major allergen of mugwort, in vivo and in vitro.

METHODS:

Thirty-two patients allergic to mugwort and 10 control subjects were investigated by means of skin prick and nasal provocation testing with different concentrations of mugwort extract, nArt v 1, and rArt v 1. nArt v 1 was purified from aqueous mugwort extract, and rArt v 1 was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, and then purified. The in vitro allergenicity was measured by means of ImmunoCAP, ELISA, ELISA-inhibition experiments, and T-cell proliferation assays.

RESULTS:

nArt v 1 and rArt v 1 were able to elicit positive in vivo and in vitro reactions. The IgE-binding capacity, as determined by means of ELISA, was slightly higher for nArt v 1 than for rArt v 1, and both allergens were able to induce T-cell proliferation in sensitized patients. However, rArt v 1 elicited a reduced response in skin and nasal provocation tests compared with nArt v 1. Compared with mugwort extract, both nArt v 1 and rArt v 1 showed lower sensitivity in patients with mugwort allergy in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS:

Art v 1, either in its native or recombinant form, is able to induce allergic reactions in patients with mugwort allergy. rArt v 1 induced comparable humoral and cell-mediated responses in vitro but showed reduced in vivo allergenicity compared with biochemically purified nArt v 1.

• Authors: Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier, David Holzmann, Martin Himly, Michael Weichel, Sandra Tresch, Beate Rückert, Günter Menz, Fatima Ferreira, Kurt Blaser, Brunello Wüthrich, Reto Crameri
• Journal: The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology (J Allergy Clin Immunol) Vol. 111 Issue 6 Pg. 1328-36 (Jun 2003) ISSN: 0091-6749 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12789236 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Antigens, Plant
• Art v 1 protein, mugwort
• Epitopes
• Plant Extracts
• Plant Proteins
• Recombinant Proteins
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Adult
• Allergens (chemistry, genetics, immunology)
• Antigens, Plant
• Artemisia (immunology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
• Epitopes (immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood, immunology)
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Male
• Nasal Provocation Tests
• Plant Extracts (immunology)
• Plant Proteins (chemistry, genetics, immunology)
• Recombinant Proteins (immunology)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (immunology)
• Skin Tests
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)