Bet v 1 from birch pollen is a lipocalin-like protein acting as allergen only when devoid of iron by promoting Th2 lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT: It is hypothesized that allergens are at the borderline of self and non-self and, through as yet elusive circumstances, mount a Th2 response for allergic sensitization. The major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 is considered the prototype for the PR-10 protein family causing respiratory allergy. Here, we give structural evidence that Bet v 1 is a lipocalin-like protein with a striking structural resemblance to human lipocalin 2. Lipocalin 2 is highly expressed in the lung where it exerts immunoregulatory functions dependent on being loaded with siderophore-bound iron (holo-form) or not (apo-form). We demonstrate that similar to lipocalin 2, Bet v 1 is capable of binding iron via catechol-based siderophores. Thereby, calculated Kd values of 66 nm surpassed affinities to known ligands nearly b

SUBMITTER: Roth-Walter F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4067174 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature