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Mengrelis K, Niederacher G, Prickler L, Kainz V, Weijler AM, Rudolph E, Stanek V, Eckl-Dorna J, Baranyi U, Spittler A, Focke-Tejkl M, Bohle B, Valenta R, Becker CFW, Wekerle T, Linhart B. Coupling of a Major Allergen to the Surface of Immune Cells for Use in Prophylactic Cell Therapy for the Prevention of IgE-Mediated Allergy. Cells 2024; 13:446. [PMID: 38474409 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Up to a third of the world's population suffers from allergies, yet the effectiveness of available preventative measures remains, at large, poor. Consequently, the development of successful prophylactic strategies for the induction of tolerance against allergens is crucial. In proof-of-concept studies, our laboratory has previously shown that the transfer of autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) or autologous B cells expressing a major grass pollen allergen, Phl p 5, induces robust tolerance in mice. However, eventual clinical translation would require safe allergen expression without the need for retroviral transduction. Therefore, we aimed to chemically couple Phl p 5 to the surface of leukocytes and tested their ability to induce tolerance. Phl p 5 was coupled by two separate techniques, either by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) or by linkage via a lipophilic anchor, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol)-maleimide (DSPE-PEG-Mal). The effectiveness was assessed in fresh and cultured Phl p 5-coupled cells by flow cytometry, image cytometry, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Chemical coupling of Phl p 5 using EDC was robust but was followed by rapid apoptosis. DSPE-PEG-Mal-mediated linkage was also strong, but antigen levels declined due to antigen internalization. Cells coupled with Phl p 5 by either method were transferred into autologous mice. While administration of EDC-coupled splenocytes together with short course immunosuppression initially reduced Phl p 5-specific antibody levels to a moderate degree, both methods did not induce sustained tolerance towards Phl p 5 upon several subcutaneous immunizations with the allergen. Overall, our results demonstrate the successful chemical linkage of an allergen to leukocytes using two separate techniques, eliminating the risks of genetic modifications. More durable surface expression still needs to be achieved for use in prophylactic cell therapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Mengrelis
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Niederacher
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Prickler
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Kainz
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Marianne Weijler
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisa Rudolph
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Victoria Stanek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Eckl-Dorna
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Baranyi
- Cardiac Surgery Research Laboratory, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Spittler
- Department of Surgery, Division of Visceral Surgery and Core Facility Flow Cytometry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Barbara Bohle
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Valenta
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems, Austria
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Immunology Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) of Russia, National Research Center (NRC), 115478 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Thomas Wekerle
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Linhart
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW More than 30 years ago, the first molecular structures of allergens were elucidated and defined recombinant allergens became available. We review the state of the art regarding molecular AIT with the goal to understand why progress in this field has been slow, although there is huge potential for treatment and allergen-specific prevention. RECENT FINDINGS On the basis of allergen structures, several AIT strategies have been developed and were advanced into clinical evaluation. In clinical AIT trials, promising results were obtained with recombinant and synthetic allergen derivatives inducing allergen-specific IgG antibodies, which interfered with allergen recognition by IgE whereas clinical efficacy could not yet be demonstrated for approaches targeting only allergen-specific T-cell responses. Available data suggest that molecular AIT strategies have many advantages over allergen extract-based AIT. SUMMARY Clinical studies indicate that recombinant allergen-based AIT vaccines, which are superior to existing allergen extract-based AIT can be developed for respiratory, food and venom allergy. Allergen-specific preventive strategies based on recombinant allergen-based vaccine approaches and induction of T-cell tolerance are on the horizon and hold promise that allergy can be prevented. However, progress is limited by lack of resources needed for clinical studies, which are necessary for the development of these innovative strategies.
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Valenta R, Karaulov A, Niederberger V, Gattinger P, van Hage M, Flicker S, Linhart B, Campana R, Focke-Tejkl M, Curin M, Eckl-Dorna J, Lupinek C, Resch-Marat Y, Vrtala S, Mittermann I, Garib V, Khaitov M, Valent P, Pickl WF. Molecular Aspects of Allergens and Allergy. Adv Immunol 2018; 138:195-256. [PMID: 29731005 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-associated allergy is the most common immune disorder. More than 30% of the population suffer from symptoms of allergy which are often severe, disabling, and life threatening such as asthma and anaphylaxis. Population-based birth cohort studies show that up to 60% of the world population exhibit IgE sensitization to allergens, of which most are protein antigens. Thirty years ago the first allergen-encoding cDNAs have been isolated. In the meantime, the structures of most of the allergens relevant for disease in humans have been solved. Here we provide an update regarding what has been learned through the use of defined allergen molecules (i.e., molecular allergology) and about mechanisms of allergic disease in humans. We focus on new insights gained regarding the process of sensitization to allergens, allergen-specific secondary immune responses, and mechanisms underlying allergic inflammation and discuss open questions. We then show how molecular forms of diagnosis and specific immunotherapy are currently revolutionizing diagnosis and treatment of allergic patients and how allergen-specific approaches may be used for the preventive eradication of allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Valenta
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; NRC Institute of Immunology FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Alexander Karaulov
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Verena Niederberger
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pia Gattinger
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marianne van Hage
- Department of Medicine Solna, Immunology and Allergy Unit, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sabine Flicker
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Linhart
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Raffaela Campana
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Margarete Focke-Tejkl
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirela Curin
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Eckl-Dorna
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Lupinek
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yvonne Resch-Marat
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Vrtala
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Mittermann
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Victoria Garib
- Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; International Network of Universities for Molecular Allergology and Immunology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Musa Khaitov
- NRC Institute of Immunology FMBA of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter Valent
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology & Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Cluster Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Winfried F Pickl
- Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Sack BK, Herzog RW, Terhorst C, Markusic DM. Development of Gene Transfer for Induction of Antigen-specific Tolerance. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2014; 1:14013. [PMID: 25558460 PMCID: PMC4280786 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2014.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gene replacement therapies, like organ and cell transplantation are likely to introduce neo-antigens that elicit rejection via humoral and/or effector T cell immune responses. Nonetheless, thanks to an ever growing body of pre-clinical studies it is now well accepted that gene transfer protocols can be specifically designed and optimized for induction of antigen-specific immune tolerance. One approach is to specifically express a gene in a tissue with a tolerogenic microenvironment such as the liver or thymus. Another strategy is to transfer a particular gene into hematopoietic stem cells or immunological precursor cells thus educating the immune system to recognize the therapeutic protein as "self". In addition, expression of the therapeutic protein in pro-tolerogenic antigen presenting cells such as immature dendritic cells and B cells has proven to be promising. All three approaches have successfully prevented unwanted immune responses in pre-clinical studies aimed at the treatment of inherited protein deficiencies, e.g. lysosomal storage disorders and hemophilia, and of type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis. In this review we focus on current gene transfer protocols that induce tolerance, including gene delivery vehicles and target tissues, and discuss successes and obstacles in different disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon K Sack
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Roland W Herzog
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Cox Terhorst
- Division of Immunology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA 02115. USA
| | - David M Markusic
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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