Three T-cell determinants of Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, the major Japanese cedar pollen antigens, retain their immunogenicity and tolerogenicity in a linked peptide

Immunology. 2002 Dec;107(4):517-22. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2002.01534.x.

Abstract

It has been demonstrated in detail that administration of a dominant T-cell determinant to animals induces activation or immunological tolerance of T cells. However, it has not been determined whether multiple T-cell determinants, when integrated into a single peptide, retain their potential to induce T-cell activation and tolerance. We prepared a synthetic peptide comprising three T-cell determinants of Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, the major Japanese cedar pollen antigens, and investigated the immunogenicity and tolerogenicity of each T-cell determinant in the linked peptide by means of lymph node cell proliferation assays using mice. Lymph node cells from mice immunized with each of the three T-cell determinants proliferated against the linked peptide in a dose-dependent manner, similar to that of the immunized peptide. Lymph node cells from mice immunized with the linked peptide proliferated against all of the three T-cell determinants. In addition, the degree of proliferation against the three T-cell determinants occurred according to their original immunogenicity, as observed in the native protein antigens. Oral administration of the linked peptide to mice before they were immunized with Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 inhibited lymph node cell proliferation against the three T-cell determinants, depending on the dose of the linked peptide administered. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that three T-cell determinants retain their original immunogenicity and tolerogenicity in a linked peptide comprising them.

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cryptomeria / immunology*
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Plant Proteins / immunology*
  • Pollen / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Cry j I protein, Cryptomeria japonica
  • Cry j II protein, Cryptomeria japonica
  • Epitopes
  • Peptides
  • Plant Proteins