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Division of Immunopathology
Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research
Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology & Immunology

Medical University of Vienna

Vienna General Hospital, AKH, 3Q
Waehringer Guertel 18-20
A-1090 Vienna, Austria
 

The role of cell-mediated immunity in Type I food allergies [Bohle]

Project summary

Birch pollen-allergic individuals often develop hypersensitivity reactions to certain foods primarily due to immunological cross-reactivity between the major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1, and homologous food allergens. It is still an open question why some Bet v 1-sensitized individuals develop food allergies whereas others remain tolerant. Furthermore, immunotherapy with birch pollen does not always ameliorate this form of food allergy. The existence of a pollen-independent food-specific response beyond cross-reactivity with Bet v 1 may be one reason for these observations. Indeed, we have found several T cell clones specific for different Bet v 1-related food allergens that did not cross-react with Bet v 1. To address this issue further we will study quantitative and qualitative differences of food-allergic responses in individuals with and without food allergies. For example, titers and biological activity of allergen-specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies or the proportion and epitope recognition of different food allergen-specific T cell subsets (Th2, Th1 and Treg cells) will be compared. To evaluate whether Bet v 1-related food allergens themselves bear a sensitizing capacity we will establish T cell clones specific for non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTP) which are considered as true plant food allergens, and analyse and compare their expression of gut-homing integrins to integrin-expression of T cell clones specific for Bet v 1-related food allergens. Another major goal is the characterization of the blocking capacity and cross-reactivity of Bet v 1-specific antibodies induced by sublingual birch pollen immunotherapy in order to evaluate their clinical relevance. Our immunological analyses will be important for the development of efficient specific treatment strategies for the most frequent food allergies in adults and provide an answer whether combinations of pollen and food allergens should be used in vaccines.