Defining the T cell antigen proteome of wasp venom
Aslam A., Kessler B., Batycka M., O'Callaghan CA., Misbah SA., Warrell DA., Ogg G.
SummaryBackground While modulation of T cell function is believed to be important in the successful acquisition of clinical tolerance during venom immunotherapy, little is known of the role of wasp venom specific T cell antigens.Objective We sought comprehensively to characterize the T cell proteome for wasp venom to facilitate the future development of T cell‐based immunotherapeutic approaches.Methods Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from wasp venom‐allergic individuals and IL‐4 ELISPOT analysis, we characterized T cell responses to whole venom and gel filtration/ion exchange‐fractionated venom. Reactive fractions were purified and identified using highly sensitive electrospray ion‐trap mass spectrometry.Results Wasp venom‐allergic individuals have detectable whole wasp venom‐specific T cells directly ex vivo, which show rapid IL‐4 effector function. T cell responses to gel filtration/ion exchange fractionated venom were dominated by responses to phospholipase A1, hyaluronidase and antigen 5.Conclusion Although it is likely that there are many T cell antigens within wasp venom, the main responses are to proteins coincident with the known IgE‐binding proteins.