Research
Novel birch pollen specific immunotherapy formulation based on contiguous overlapping peptides
Céline Pellaton1,
Yannick Perrin1,
Caroline Boudousquié1,
Nathalie Barbier1,
Jacqueline Wassenberg1,
Giampietro Corradin3,
Anne-Christine Thierry1,
Régine Audran1,
Christophe Reymond1,2 and
François Spertini1*
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Clinical and Translational Allergy 2013, 3:17 doi:10.1186/2045-7022-3-17
Published: 1 June 2013
Abstract
Background
Synthetic contiguous overlapping peptides (COPs) may represent an alternative to allergen extracts or recombinant allergens for allergen specific immunotherapy. In combination, COPs encompass the entire allergen sequence, providing all potential T cell epitopes, while preventing IgE conformational epitopes of the native allergen.
Methods
Individual COPs were derived from the sequence of Bet v 1, the major allergen of birch pollen, and its known crystal structure, and designed to avoid IgE binding. Three sets of COPs were tested in vitro in competition ELISA and basophil degranulation assays. Their in vivo reactivity was determined by intraperitoneal challenge in rBet v 1 sensitized mice as well as by skin prick tests in volunteers with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to birch pollen.
Results
The combination, named AllerT, of three COPs selected for undetectable IgE binding in competition assays and for the absence of basophil activation in vitro was unable to induce anaphylaxis in sensitized mice in contrast to rBet v 1. In addition no positive reactivity to AllerT was observed in skin prick tests in human volunteers allergic to birch pollen. In contrast, a second set of COPs, AllerT4-T5 displayed some residual IgE binding in competition ELISA and a weak subliminal reactivity to skin prick testing.
Conclusions
The hypoallergenicity of contiguous overlapping peptides was confirmed by low, if any, IgE binding activity in vitro, by the absence of basophil activation and the absence of in vivo induction of allergic reactions in mouse and human.
Trial registration
Keywords:
IgE; Peptides; Immunotherapy; Birch; Pollen
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