T cell responses to known allergen proteins are differently polarized and account for a variable fraction of total response to allergen extracts.

ABSTRACT: A panel of 133 allergens derived from 28 different sources, including fungi, trees, grasses, weeds, and indoor allergens, was surveyed utilizing prediction of HLA class II-binding peptides and ELISPOT assays with PBMC from allergic donors, resulting in the identification of 257 T cell epitopes. More than 90% of the epitopes were novel, and for 14 allergen sources were the first ever identified to our knowledge. The epitopes identified in the different allergen sources summed up to a variable fraction of the total extract response. In cases of allergens in which the identified T cell epitopes accounted for a minor fraction of the extract response, fewer known protein sequences were available, suggesting that for low epitope coverage allergen sources, additional allergen proteins remain to b

SUBMITTER: Oseroff C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3411923 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature