Epitopes described in "T cell epitope mapping of ragweed pollen allergen Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Amb a 5) and Ambrosia trifida (Amb t 5) and the role of free sulfhydryl groups in T cell recognition."

Reference
Article Authors:X Zhu; J L Greenstein; B L Rogers; M C Kuo
Article Title:T cell epitope mapping of ragweed pollen allergen Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Amb a 5) and Ambrosia trifida (Amb t 5) and the role of free sulfhydryl groups in T cell recognition.
Reference Detail
Reference ID:1005273
Abstract:Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Amb a 5; Ra5S) and Ambrosia trifida (Amb t 5; Ra5G) are homologous allergens purified from short and giant ragweed pollen, respectively. Allergic human sera and hyperimmunized animal antisera directed against Amb a 5 or Amb t 5 show a high degree of species specificity, with little or no cross-reactivity between these two allergens, suggesting that the major Ab binding epitopes of Amb a 5 and Amb t 5 are distinct. Overlapping synthetic peptides derived from the allergen sequences were used to investigate the specificity of T cell responses in four strains of mice, BALB/c (H-2d), CBA (H-2k), C57BL/6 (H-2b), and A/J (H-2a). All four strains of mice responded to purified Amb a 5 and Amb t 5. Cross-reactivity was found at the T cell level between Amb a 5 and Amb t 5 in T cells from BALB/c, A/J, and CBA mice, but not in T cells from C57BL/6 mice. A T cell epitope from Amb a 5, residues 27-36 (PWQVVCYESS), was mapped using T cell hybridomas from BALB/c mice. A T cell epitope in Amb t 5 was mapped in the same strain to residues 24-34 (KYCVCYDSKAI). Disulfide bonds in Amb a 5 and Amb t 5 were found to be involved in T cell reactivity. Conversion of disulfide bridges into free sulfhydryl (SH) forms was required for the response of T cell hybridomas to peptide t5 (residues 27-40) from Amb t 5. Reduction of peptide a4 (residues 21-37) from Amb a 5 was essential for inducing the cross-reactivity observed with Amb t 5-specific T cell hybridomas. It is concluded that free sulfhydryl groups play a major role in the T cell recognition of cross-reactivity T cell epitopes within these related allergens.
Affiliations:ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical Corporation, Waltham, MA 02154, USA.
Date:1995
Reference Type:Literature
PubMed ID:7594515
Journal:J Immunol
Journal Volume:155
Article Pages:5064-73
Journal ISSN:0022-1767
Article Chemical List:Allergens;Antigens, Plant;Plant Proteins;Sulfhydryl Compounds;group 5 allergens, Ambrosia
Article MeSH List:Allergens; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antigens, Plant; Epitope Mapping; Humans; Hypersensitivity(immunology); Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred CBA; Molecular Sequence Data; Plant Proteins(immunology); Pollen; Sulfhydryl Compounds(immunology); T-Lymphocytes(immunology)
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