Influence of the 3D-conformation, glycan component and microheterogeneity on the epitope structure of Ole e 1, the major olive allergen. Use of recombinant isoforms and specific monoclonal antibodies as immunological tools

Mol Immunol. 2002 Sep;39(1-2):93-101. doi: 10.1016/s0161-5890(02)00044-5.

Abstract

Ole e 1 is the main allergen of olive pollen, which is a major cause of pollinosis in countries of the Mediterranean area. Nine Ole e 1-specific murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), as well as two Ole e 1-isoforms and two Ole e 1-like allergens from lilac and privet, all of them obtained in Pichia pastoris by recombinant methods, have been used as tools to determine the role of the three-dimensional (3D)-folding, the glycan component and several point changes of the amino acid sequence in the binding of murine IgG mAbs and human IgE to the olive allergen. Seven mAb families (F1-F7) were established, two of which (F1 and F2) recognize continuous epitopes. The carbohydrate moiety of Ole e 1 was involved in the binding to F2 and F4, whereas F3 and F7 were able to bind to all Ole e 1 variants. The remaining families of IgG murine antibodies exhibited different affinities for the antigens assayed in a native or denatured conformation. Although the binding of human IgE to Ole e 1 was not affected by heat treatment, it was shown to be strongly dependent on the integrity of the disulfide bridges and was partially inhibited by F3-F7 IgG antibodies, their individual values ranging from 12 to 31% and reaching 53% with their mixture. The IgE from sera of olive-allergic patients showed a significant diversity of binding capacity to the members of the Ole e 1-like family due to the microheterogeneity of their polypeptide sequences, in spite of their highly conserved primary structures. Whereas one of the isoforms of Ole e 1 exhibits a highly similar behavior to the natural form, being a putative molecule for diagnostic purposes, other ones can be considered as hypoallergenic variants of this allergen and, thus, potential candidates to be used in immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / chemistry
  • Allergens / immunology*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / immunology*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Ole e I protein, Olea europaea
  • Plant Proteins
  • Polysaccharides
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin E