Crossreactivity and T-cell epitope specificity of Bet v 1-specific T cells suggest the involvement of multiple isoallergens in sensitization to birch pollen

Abstract

This study demonstrates that apart from T-cell epitopes of rBet v 1, many other crossreactive or Bet v 1 isoallergen-specific epitopes exist. This indicates that isoallergenic variation plays an important role in the induction of Bet v 1-specific and crossreactive T-cell responsiveness to allergens.

Bet v 1142-156 is the dominant T-cell epitope of the major birch pollen allergen and important for cross-reactivity with Bet v 1–related food allergens

“…8,29 This strong immunogenicity might be due to the fact that the C-terminus of Bet v 1 is highly conserved and identical among all isoforms of Bet v 1 known so far. 25,30 Furthermore, this part of the molecule shares a high amino acid sequence similarity with various Bet v 1-related tree pollen allergens, such as Aln g 1 (alder) or Car b 1 (hornbeam) and Cor a 1 (hazel). 27,31,32 Bet v 1 142-156 -specific TCCs were shown to cross-react with several different isoforms of the major allergen in hazel pollen.…”

A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled birch allergy vaccination study: inhibition of CD23‐mediated serum‐immunoglobulin E‐facilitated allergen presentation

“…Bet v 1‐specific T cell line and clones were generated from the peripheral blood of patient AF, who is clinically allergic to birch pollen as well as SPT positive and Magic Lite class II to birch [37]. The CD4 + TCC AF28 reacted with aa 21–33, CD4 + TCC AF24 with aa 37–51 and AF line (which contains both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells) reacted with several T cell epitopes simultaneously.…”

Immunobiology of grass pollen allergens

“…Elucidation of primary structures and B-cell and T-cell epitopes has lead to the identification of cross-reactive species [18,19]. The crossreactivity of allergens is determined by its structure.…”