Defining the T cell antigen proteome of wasp venom.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: While modulation of T cell function is believed to be important in the successful acquisition of clinical tolerance during venom immunotherapy, little is known of the role of wasp venom specific T cell antigens. OBJECTIVE: We sought comprehensively to characterize the T cell proteome for wasp venom to facilitate the future development of T cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches. METHODS: Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from wasp venom-allergic individuals and IL-4 ELISPOT analysis, we characterized T cell responses to whole venom and gel filtration/ion exchange-fractionated venom. Reactive fractions were purified and identified using highly sensitive electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Wasp venom-allergic individuals have detectable whole wasp venom-specific T cells directly ex vivo, which show rapid IL-4 effector function. T cell responses to gel filtration/ion exchange fractionated venom were dominated by responses to phospholipase A(1), hyaluronidase and antigen 5. CONCLUSION: Although it is likely that there are many T cell antigens within wasp venom, the main responses are to proteins coincident with the known IgE-binding proteins.

Authors: Aslam, A; Kessler, B; Batycka, M; O'Callaghan, C; Misbah, SA

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1274-1280
• Publication date: 2006-10-01
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02569.x
• EISSN: 1365-2222
• ISSN: 0954-7894
• Language: English
• Keywords: T-Lymphocytes; Receptors, IgE; Interleukin-4; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Phospholipases; Animals; Case-Control Studies; Chromatography, Gel; Female; Middle Aged; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Antigens; Wasp Venoms; Desensitization, Immunologic; Adult; Male; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; Proteome; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Humans