BACKGROUND: Recent investigations have shown that proteins, including Bet v 1a, are nitrated by exposure to polluted urban air. We have investigated immunogenic and allergenic properties of in vitro nitrated allergens in in vivo models. METHODS: Untreated and nitrated samples of ovalbumin or Bet v 1a were compared for their ability to stimulate proliferation and cytokine secretion in splenocytes from DO11.10 or from sensitized BALB/c mice, and for their ability to induce specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G1, IgG2a and IgE in sensitized mice. Additionally, sera from birch pollen-allergic individuals were analysed for IgE and IgG specific for nitrated Bet v 1a. RESULTS: Upon splenocyte stimulation with nitrated as compared with unmodified allergens, proliferation as well as interleukin 5 and interferon-gamma production were enhanced. Sera of mice sensitized with nitrated allergens showed elevated levels of specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a, compared with sera from mice sensitized with unmodified allergens. Moreover, cross-reactivity of antibodies against unrelated, nitrated allergens was observed in mice. We also found higher amounts of functional, specific IgE against nitrated than against untreated Bet v 1a in sera from birch pollen-allergic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that nitration enhances allergic responses, which may contribute to an increased prevalence of allergic diseases in polluted urban environments.
BACKGROUND: Recent investigations have shown that proteins, including Bet v 1a, are nitrated by exposure to polluted urban air. We have investigated immunogenic and allergenic properties of in vitro nitrated allergens in in vivo models. METHODS: Untreated and nitrated samples of ovalbumin or Bet v 1a were compared for their ability to stimulate proliferation and cytokine secretion in splenocytes from DO11.10 or from sensitized BALB/c mice, and for their ability to induce specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G1, IgG2a and IgE in sensitized mice. Additionally, sera from birch pollen-allergic individuals were analysed for IgE and IgG specific for nitrated Bet v 1a. RESULTS: Upon splenocyte stimulation with nitrated as compared with unmodified allergens, proliferation as well as interleukin 5 and interferon-gamma production were enhanced. Sera of mice sensitized with nitrated allergens showed elevated levels of specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a, compared with sera from mice sensitized with unmodified allergens. Moreover, cross-reactivity of antibodies against unrelated, nitrated allergens was observed in mice. We also found higher amounts of functional, specific IgE against nitrated than against untreated Bet v 1a in sera from birch pollen-allergic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that nitration enhances allergic responses, which may contribute to an increased prevalence of allergic diseases in polluted urban environments.
Authors: Nga Lee Ng; Steven S Brown; Alexander T Archibald; Elliot Atlas; Ronald C Cohen; John N Crowley; Douglas A Day; Neil M Donahue; Juliane L Fry; Hendrik Fuchs; Robert J Griffin; Marcelo I Guzman; Hartmut Herrmann; Alma Hodzic; Yoshiteru Iinuma; José L Jimenez; Astrid Kiendler-Scharr; Ben H Lee; Deborah J Luecken; Jingqiu Mao; Robert McLaren; Anke Mutzel; Hans D Osthoff; Bin Ouyang; Benedicte Picquet-Varrault; Ulrich Platt; Havala O T Pye; Yinon Rudich; Rebecca H Schwantes; Manabu Shiraiwa; Jochen Stutz; Joel A Thornton; Andreas Tilgner; Brent J Williams; Rahul A Zaveri Journal: Atmos Chem Phys Date: 2017 Impact factor: 6.133
Authors: Eva Untersmayr; Susanne C Diesner; Gertie Janneke Oostingh; Kathrin Selzle; Tobias Pfaller; Cornelia Schultz; Yingyi Zhang; Durga Krishnamurthy; Philipp Starkl; Regina Knittelfelder; Elisabeth Förster-Waldl; Arnold Pollak; Otto Scheiner; Ulrich Pöschl; Erika Jensen-Jarolim; Albert Duschl Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-12-02 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: G A Mueller; S J Maleki; K Johnson; B K Hurlburt; H Cheng; S Ruan; J B Nesbit; A Pomés; L L Edwards; A Schorzman; L J Deterding; H Park; K B Tomer; R E London; J G Williams Journal: Allergy Date: 2013-11-23 Impact factor: 13.146