ISSN:
1365-2222
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background Venom immunotherapy is definitely indicated in severe systemic anaphylactic reactions to bee stings. but is not devoided of risks of anaphylaxis. Safer methods of Immunotherapy need to be developed.Objective To delineate phospholipase A2 Tcell epitopes using shoti I5mer vs long 40–60mer overlapping peptides, and to approach the potential interest of a venom immunotherapy based on the use of long peptides (1–60. 51–99. 90–134) mapping the whole phospholipase A2 molecule vs a restricted number of immunodominant epitopes.Methods Proliferation of a CD8+ T cell depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cell fraction and short-term T-cell lines from unselected bee venom hypersensitive patients in response to phospholipase A2 synthetic peptides.Results Whereas T-cell proliferation to 15mer overlapping peptides was weak, T-cell response to long overlapping peptides was in contrast vigorous in all patients, mostly directed to C-terminal peptide 90–134. Our results did not support the concept of rare dominant T-cell epitopes. and disclosed T-cell responses to multiple epitopes in several patients. No significant IgE-binding to long overlapping peptides was detected except in one patient against peptide 90–134.Conclusion 15mer peptides might not be sensitive enough to fully delineate all potential T-cell epitopes scattered along the allergen. Since they do not bind IgE in vitro or only weakly, and taking into account a T-cell response frequently directed to multipie epitopes, long overlapping peptides may represent ideal tools for immunotherapy.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.1997.tb01253.x
