Erschienen in:
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 124 (2001) 1-3, Seite 73-76
Sprache:
Englisch
DOI:
10.1159/000053673
ISSN:
1018-2438;
1423-0097
Entstehung:
Anmerkungen:
Beschreibung:
<i>Background:</i> The modulation of T cell responses by natural peptides is of potential use in the treatment of allergic diseases and reduces the risk of IgE-mediated reactions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the allergenicity of depigmented, pepsin-digested fragments of <i>Oela europaea</i> and <i>Phleum pratense</i> extracts and their capacity to induce T cell proliferation. <i>Methods:</i> Lyophilized <i>O. europaea</i> and <i>P. pratense</i> extracts were depigmented following standardized methods, digested with pepsin and fractionated by ultrafiltration; a fraction containing components in the molecular weight range of 1–10 kD was selected. The blood of 20 allergic individuals was used to conduct T cell proliferation studies. <i>Results:</i> Pepsin-digested fragments of both pollen extracts lost more than 95% of their IgE-binding capacity by ELISA inhibition. Greater proliferation indexes than their respective native extracts were obtained in 55% of <i>O. europaea</i> and in 95% of <i>P. pratense</i> allergic patients. <i>Conclusions:</i> This study demonstrates that pepsin-digested allergenic fragments of depigmented extracts can be produced in a standardized, reproducible manner. These fragments are significantly less allergenic and retain, or even increase, their capacity to induce T cell proliferations.