Human TCR transgenic Bet v 1-specific Th1 cells suppress the effector function of Bet v 1-specific Th2 cells.

Pollinosis to birch pollen is a common type I allergy in the Northern Hemisphere. Moreover, birch pollen-allergic individuals sensitized to the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 frequently develop allergic reactions to stone fruits, hazelnuts, and certain vegetables due to immunological cross-reactivity. The major T cell epitope Bet v 1(142-153) plays an important role in cross-reactivity between the respiratory allergen Bet v 1 and its homologous food allergens.

Lipid rafts, pseudotyping, and virus-like particles: relevance of a novel, configurable, and modular antigen-presenting platform.

Antigen presentation by professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) is the first step towards the initiation of an adaptive immune response carried out by naïve T lymphocytes. For this purpose, antigens are presented in the form of peptide/major histocompatibility complexes (pMHC) on APC to the antigen receptor of T cells. For sustained T cell activation to occur, numerous additional molecules specifically expressed on the surface of APC have to synergize with pMHC to stimulate a given T lymphocyte.

Fluorosomes: a convenient new reagent to detect and block multivalent and complex receptor-ligand interactions.

We describe for the first time fluorescent virus-like particles decorated with biologically active mono- and multisubunit immune receptors of choice and the basic application of such fluorosomes (FSs) to visualize and target immune receptor-ligand interactions. For that purpose, human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells were stably transfected with Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV) matrix protein (MA) GFP fusion constructs. To produce FSs, interleukins (ILs), IL-receptors (IL-Rs), and costimulatory molecules were fused to the glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol anchor acceptor sequence of CD16b and coexpressed along with MoMLV group-specific antigen-polymerase (gag-pol) in MA::GFP(+) HEK-293 cells.

Modulation of allergen-specific T-lymphocyte function by virus-like particles decorated with HLA class II molecules.

Background: T(H)2 lymphocytes play an important role in the induction and maintenance phase of type I allergy. Modulation of the responses of T(H)2 lymphocytes by novel forms of antigen-presenting platforms may help shape the immune response to allergen and palliate allergic diseases.

Objective: To present HLA class II/allergen-peptide complexes on virus-like particles (VLPs) and to evaluate their potential to modulate allergen-specific T-cell responses.

Molecular and functional analysis of the antigen receptor of Art v 1-specific helper T lymphocytes.

Background: Ninety-five percent of patients with mugwort allergy are sensitized to Art v 1, the sole major allergen in mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) pollen. Sixty-nine percent of patients recognizing the single immunodominant T-cell epitope Art v 1(25-36) have an HLA-DRB1*01 phenotype.

Objective: We studied cloning and functional expression of a human alphabeta T-cell receptor (TCR) specific for Art v 1(25-36).