T-cell epitope analysis of Mag 3, an important allergen from the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae

Immunol Lett. 2000 Apr 3;72(1):53-60. doi: 10.1016/s0165-2478(00)00163-2.

Abstract

Here we describe the detection of T-cell epitope region on the house dust mite allergen Mag 3, which has been shown to trigger T-cell proliferation in mite-allergic asthmatic patients. We first examined murine T-cell epitope using T-cell fraction prepared from recombinant Mag 3 (r-Mag 3)-primed H-2k mice. Initial proliferation assay with truncated r-Mag 3 indicated that N-terminal 113 amino acid region was required for triggering T-cell activation. Subsequent epitope scanning with synthetic overlapping peptides revealed that T-cell reactive region was assigned within amino acid range 56-75. We also explored human T-cell determinant using specific T-cells from mite-allergic patients. Intriguingly, we found that amino acid range 56-85, a portion partially overlapping with that identified in r-Mag 3-primed mice, was exclusively recognized by T-cells from different patients. Further investigation of unique T-cell epitope region found in this study would provide insight into the development of animal therapeutic model and/or peptide vaccine for asthma.

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / adverse effects
  • Allergens / genetics
  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • Dust
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / adverse effects
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • H-2 Antigens / immunology
  • Housing
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Immediate / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mites / immunology
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • Dust
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Glycoproteins
  • H-2 Antigens
  • Peptides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins