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Ball A, Khatri K, Glesner J, Vailes LD, Wünschmann S, Gabel SA, Mueller GA, Zhang J, Peebles RS, Chapman MD, Smith SA, Chruszcz M, Pomés A. Structural analysis of human IgE monoclonal antibody epitopes on dust mite allergen Der p 2. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 154:447-457. [PMID: 38697404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human IgE (hIgE) mAbs against major mite allergen Der p 2 developed using human hybridoma technology were used for IgE epitope mapping and analysis of epitopes associated with the hIgE repertoire. OBJECTIVE We sought to elucidate the new hIgE mAb 4C8 epitope on Der p 2 and compare it to the hIgE mAb 2F10 epitope in the context of the allergenic structure of Der p 2. METHODS X-ray crystallography was used to determine the epitope of anti-Der p 2 hIgE mAb 4C8. Epitope mutants created by targeted mutagenesis were analyzed by immunoassays and in vivo using a human high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRIα)-transgenic mouse model of passive systemic anaphylaxis. RESULTS The structure of recombinant Der p 2 with hIgE mAb 4C8 Fab was determined at 3.05 Å. The newly identified epitope region does not overlap with the hIgE mAb 2F10 epitope or the region recognized by 3 overlapping hIgE mAbs (1B8, 5D10, and 2G1). Compared with wild-type Der p 2, single or double 4C8 and 2F10 epitope mutants bound less IgE antibodies from allergic patients by as much as 93%. Human FcεRIα-transgenic mice sensitized by hIgE mAbs, which were susceptible to anaphylaxis when challenged with wild-type Der p 2, could no longer cross-link FcεRI to induce anaphylaxis when challenged with the epitope mutants. CONCLUSIONS These data establish the structural basis of allergenicity of 2 hIgE mAb nonoverlapping epitopes on Der p 2, which appear to make important contributions to the hIgE repertoire against Der p 2 and provide molecular targets for future design of allergy therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kriti Khatri
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich; University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
| | | | | | | | - Scott A Gabel
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Geoffrey A Mueller
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Jian Zhang
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn
| | | | | | - Scott A Smith
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn
| | - Maksymilian Chruszcz
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich; University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
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2
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Pomés A, Smith SA, Chruszcz M, Mueller GA, Brackett NF, Chapman MD. Precision engineering for localization, validation, and modification of allergenic epitopes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:560-571. [PMID: 38181840 PMCID: PMC10939758 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
The allergen-IgE interaction is essential for the genesis of allergic responses, yet investigation of the molecular basis of these interactions is in its infancy. Precision engineering has unveiled the molecular features of allergen-antibody interactions at the atomic level. High-resolution technologies, including x-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy, determine allergen-antibody structures. X-ray crystallography of an allergen-antibody complex localizes in detail amino acid residues and interactions that define the epitope-paratope interface. Multiple structures involving murine IgG mAbs have recently been resolved. The number of amino acids forming the epitope broadly correlates with the epitope area. The production of human IgE mAbs from B cells of allergic subjects is an exciting recent development that has for the first time enabled an actual IgE epitope to be defined. The biologic activity of defined IgE epitopes can be validated in vivo in animal models or by measuring mediator release from engineered basophilic cell lines. Finally, gene-editing approaches using the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats technology to either remove allergen genes or make targeted epitope engineering at the source are on the horizon. This review presents an overview of the identification and validation of allergenic epitopes by precision engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott A Smith
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn
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3
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Bartha I, Almulhem N, Santos AF. Feast for thought: A comprehensive review of food allergy 2021-2023. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:576-594. [PMID: 38101757 PMCID: PMC11096837 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.11.918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
A review of the latest publications in food allergy over the past couple of years confirmed that food allergy is a major public health concern, affecting about 8% of children and 10% of adults in developed countries. The prevalence of food allergy varies around the world, with the increase being driven mainly by environmental factors, possibly together with genetic susceptibility to environmental changes. A precise diagnosis of food allergy is extremely important. Both new tests (eg, the basophil activation test) and improved optimization of information provided by existing tests (eg, the skin prick test and measurement of specific IgE level) can contribute to improving the accuracy and patients' comfort of food allergy diagnosis. Understanding the underlying immune mechanisms is fundamental to designing allergen-specific treatments that can be safe and effective in the long term. New discoveries of the immune response to food allergens, including T-cell and B-cell responses, have emerged. Novel therapeutic approaches are being trialed at various stages of development as attempts to allow for more active intervention to treat food allergy. Prevention is key to reducing the increase in prevalence. Early introduction of allergenic foods seems to be the most effective intervention, but others are being studied, and will, it is hoped, lead to modification of the epidemiologic trajectory of food allergy over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Bartha
- Children's Allergy Service, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Women and Children's Health (Pediatric Allergy), School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Noorah Almulhem
- Children's Allergy Service, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, King Fahad Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexandra F Santos
- Children's Allergy Service, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Women and Children's Health (Pediatric Allergy), School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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4
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Stone CA, Spiller BW, Smith SA. Engineering therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:539-548. [PMID: 37995859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The use of human antibodies as biologic therapeutics has revolutionized patient care throughout fields of medicine. As our understanding of the many roles antibodies play within our natural immune responses continues to advance, so will the number of therapeutic indications for which an mAb will be developed. The great breadth of function, long half-life, and modular structure allow for nearly limitless therapeutic possibilities. Human antibodies can be rationally engineered to enhance their desired immune functions and eliminate those that may result in unwanted effects. Antibody therapeutics now often start with fully human variable regions, either acquired from genetically engineered humanized mice or from the actual human B cells. These variable genes can be further engineered by widely used methods for optimization of their specificity through affinity maturation, random mutagenesis, targeted mutagenesis, and use of in silico approaches. Antibody isotype selection and deliberate mutations are also used to improve efficacy and tolerability by purposeful fine-tuning of their immune effector functions. Finally, improvements directed at binding to the neonatal Fc receptor can endow therapeutic antibodies with unbelievable extensions in their circulating half-life. The future of engineered antibody therapeutics is bright, with the global mAb market projected to exhibit compound annual growth, forecasted to reach a revenue of nearly half a trillion dollars in 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosby A Stone
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn
| | - Benjamin W Spiller
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn
| | - Scott A Smith
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
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Katru SC, Balakrishnan AS, Munirathinam G, Hadadianpour A, Smith SA, Kalyanasundaram R. Identification and characterization of a novel nematode pan allergen (NPA) from Wuchereria bancrofti and their potential role in human filarial tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011972. [PMID: 38354188 PMCID: PMC10898765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) is a chronic respiratory syndrome associated with Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), a tropical parasitic infection of the human, transmitted by mosquitoes. The larval form of LF (microfilariae) are trapped in the lungs of TPE subjects have a major role in initiating the TPE syndrome. To date, there are no reports on the potential allergen that is responsible for generating parasite-specific IgE in TPE. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In this project, we screened a cDNA expression library of the microfilarial stages of Wuchereria bancrofti with monoclonal IgE antibodies prepared from subjects with clinical filarial infections. Our studies identified a novel molecule that showed significant sequence similarity to an allergen. A blast analysis showed the presence of similar proteins in a number of nematodes parasites. Thus, we named this molecule as Nematode Pan Allergen (NPA). Subsequent functional analysis showed that NPA is a potent allergen that can cause release of histamine from mast cells, induce secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from alveolar macrophages and promote accumulation of eosinophils in the tissue, all of which occur in TPE lungs. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Based on our results, we conclude that the NPA protein secreted by the microfilariae of W. bancrofti may play a significant role in the pathology of TPE syndrome in LF infected individuals. Further studies on this molecule can help design an approach to neutralize the NPA in an attempt to reduce the pathology associated with TPE in LF infected subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Christopher Katru
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois, College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States of America
| | - Anand Setty Balakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois, College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States of America
| | - Gnanasekar Munirathinam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois, College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States of America
| | - Azadeh Hadadianpour
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, A2210 Medical Center North, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Scott A. Smith
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, A2210 Medical Center North, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois, College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States of America
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Smith BRE, Reid Black K, Bermingham M, Agah S, Glesner J, Versteeg SA, van Ree R, Pena-Amelunxen G, Aglas L, Smith SA, Pomés A, Chapman MD. Unique allergen-specific human IgE monoclonal antibodies derived from patients with allergic disease. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2023; 4:1270326. [PMID: 37901762 PMCID: PMC10602672 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2023.1270326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Allergic reactions are mediated by human IgE antibodies that bind to and cross-link allergen molecules. The sites on allergens that are recognized by IgE antibodies have been difficult to investigate because of the paucity of IgE antibodies in a human serum. Here, we report the production of unique human IgE monoclonal antibodies to major inhaled allergens and food allergens that can be produced at scale in perpetuity. Materials and methods The IgE antibodies were derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of symptomatic allergic patients, mostly children aged 3-18 years, using hybridoma fusion technology. Total IgE and allergen-specific IgE was measured by ImmunoCAP. Their specificity was confirmed through ELISA and immunoblotting. Allergenic potency measurements were determined by ImmunoCAP inhibition. Biological activity was determined in vitro by comparing β-hexosaminidase release from a humanized rat basophilic cell line. Results Human IgE monoclonal antibodies (n = 33) were derived from 17 allergic patients with symptoms of allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, food allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis, or red meat allergy. The antibodies were specific for five inhaled allergens, nine food allergens, and alpha-gal and had high levels of IgE (53,450-1,702,500 kU/L) with ratios of specific IgE to total IgE ranging from <0.01 to 1.39. Sigmoidal allergen binding curves were obtained through ELISA, with low limits of detection (<1 kU/L). Allergen specificity was confirmed through immunoblotting. Pairs of IgE monoclonal antibodies to Ara h 6 were identified that cross-linked after allergen stimulation and induced release of significant levels of β-hexosaminidase (35%-80%) from a humanized rat basophilic cell line. Conclusions Human IgE monoclonal antibodies are unique antibody molecules with potential applications in allergy diagnosis, allergen standardization, and identification of allergenic epitopes for the development of allergy therapeutics. The IgE antibody probes will enable the unequivocal localization and validation of allergenic epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sayeh Agah
- InBio, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | | | - Serge A. Versteeg
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ronald van Ree
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Lorenz Aglas
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Scott A. Smith
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Anna Pomés
- InBio, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Caraballo L, Llinás-Caballero K. The Relationship of Parasite Allergens to Allergic Diseases. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2023; 23:363-373. [PMID: 37269427 PMCID: PMC10354133 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-023-01089-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Helminth infections modify the natural history of allergic diseases, by either decreasing or increasing their symptoms. Several helminth components are involved in the increasing of the allergic response and symptoms, overcoming the concomitant immunosuppression of helminthiases. However, the role of individual IgE-binding molecules in this process remains to be defined. RECENT FINDINGS We updated the list of helminth allergens and IgE-binding molecules, their effects on asthma presentation, and their impact on allergy diagnosis. Data from genetic and epigenetic studies of ascariasis are analyzed. A new species-specific A. lumbricoides allergen has been discovered, with potential use in molecular diagnosis. Most helminth IgE-binding components are not officially classified as allergens in the WHO/IUIS database, although there is evidence of their influence increasing allergic manifestations. Further immunological characterization of these components is needed to better understand their mechanisms of action and evaluate the ways in which they can influence the diagnosis of allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Caraballo
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
| | - Kevin Llinás-Caballero
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
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8
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Mersha FB, McClung CM, Chen M, Ruse CI, Foster JM. Defining the filarial N-glycoproteome by glycosite mapping in the human parasitic nematode Brugia malayi. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7951. [PMID: 37193733 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34936-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
N-linked glycosylation is a critical post translational modification of eukaryotic proteins. N-linked glycans are present on surface and secreted filarial proteins that play a role in host parasite interactions. Examples of glycosylated Brugia malayi proteins have been previously identified but there has not been a systematic study of the N-linked glycoproteome of this or any other filarial parasite. In this study, we applied an enhanced N-glyco FASP protocol using an engineered carbohydrate-binding protein, Fbs1, to enrich N-glycosylated peptides for analysis by LC-MS/MS. We then mapped the N-glycosites on proteins from three host stages of the parasite: adult female, adult male and microfilariae. Fbs1 enrichment of N-glycosylated peptides enhanced the identification of N-glycosites. Our data identified 582 N-linked glycoproteins with 1273 N-glycosites. Gene ontology and cell localization prediction of the identified N-glycoproteins indicated that they were mostly membrane and extracellular proteins. Comparing results from adult female worms, adult male worms, and microfilariae, we find variability in N-glycosylation at the protein level as well as at the individual N-glycosite level. These variations are highlighted in cuticle N-glycoproteins and adult worm restricted N-glycoproteins as examples of proteins at the host parasite interface that are well positioned as potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers.
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9
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Hatfield G, Tepliakova L, Tran J, Lu H, Gilbert M, Tam RY. Bivalent non-human gal-α1-3-gal glycan epitopes in the Fc region of a monoclonal antibody model can be recognized by anti-Gal-α1-3-Gal IgE antibodies. MAbs 2023; 15:2239405. [PMID: 37497986 PMCID: PMC10376915 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2023.2239405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibody (mAb) production using non-human cells can introduce non-human glycan epitopes including terminal galactosyl-α1-3-galactose (α1-3-Gal) moieties. Cetuximab is a commercial mAb associated with causing anaphylaxis in some patients due to the binding of endogenous anti-α1-3-Gal IgE to the Fab (containing bi-α1-3-galactosylated glycans) but not to the Fc region (containing mono-α1-3-galactosylated glycans). Despite being low in abundance in typical commercial mAbs, the inherent sensitivity of cell culture conditions on glycosylation profiles, and the development of novel glycoengineering strategies, novel antibody-based modalities, and biosimilars by various manufacturers with varying procedures, necessitates a better understanding of the structural requirements for anti-α1-3-Gal IgE binding to the Fc region. Herein, we synthesized mAb glycoforms with varying degrees and regioisomers of α1-3-galactosylation and tested their binding to two commercial anti-α1-3-Gal human IgE antibodies derived from a human patient with allergies to red meat (comprising α1-3-Gal epitopes), as well as to the FcγRIIIA receptor. Our results demonstrate that unexpectedly, anti-α1-3-Gal human IgE antibodies can bind to Fc glycans, with bi-α1-3-galactosylation being the most important factor, highlighting that their presence in the Fc region may be considered as a potential critical quality attribute, particularly when using novel platforms in mAb-based biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grayson Hatfield
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lioudmila Tepliakova
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Tran
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Huixin Lu
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michel Gilbert
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roger Y. Tam
- Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Dombrowicz D. Identification of major human IgE-inducing parasite antigens: A path to therapeutic approaches? J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 150:1412-1414. [PMID: 36270491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Dombrowicz
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011-EGID, F-59000 Lille, France.
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Giménez-Orenga K, Pierquin J, Brunel J, Charvet B, Martín-Martínez E, Perron H, Oltra E. HERV-W ENV antigenemia and correlation of increased anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin levels with post-COVID-19 symptoms. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1020064. [PMID: 36389746 PMCID: PMC9647063 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1020064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the wide scope and persistence of COVID-19´s pandemic, post-COVID-19 condition represents a post-viral syndrome of unprecedented dimensions. SARS-CoV-2, in line with other infectious agents, has the capacity to activate dormant human endogenous retroviral sequences ancestrally integrated in human genomes (HERVs). This activation was shown to relate to aggravated COVID-19 patient´s symptom severity. Despite our limited understanding of how HERVs are turned off upon infection clearance, or how HERVs mediate long-term effects when their transcription remains aberrantly on, the participation of these elements in neurologic disease, such as multiple sclerosis, is already settling the basis for effective therapeutic solutions. These observations support an urgent need to identify the mechanisms that lead to HERV expression with SARS-CoV-2 infection, on the one hand, and to answer whether persistent HERV expression exists in post-COVID-19 condition, on the other. The present study shows, for the first time, that the HERV-W ENV protein can still be actively expressed long after SARS-CoV-2 infection is resolved in post-COVID-19 condition patients. Moreover, increased anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins in post-COVID-19 condition, particularly high anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin levels of the E isotype (IgE), seem to strongly correlate with deteriorated patient physical function (r=-0.8057, p<0.01). These results indicate that HERV-W ENV antigenemia and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgE serology should be further studied to better characterize post-COVID-19 condition pathogenic drivers potentially differing in subsets of patients with various symptoms. They also point out that such biomarkers may serve to design therapeutic options for precision medicine in post-COVID-19 condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Giménez-Orenga
- Escuela de Doctorado, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Hervé Perron
- Geneuro-Innovation, Bioparc Laënnec, Lyon, France
- GeNeuro, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Elisa Oltra
- Department of Pathology, School of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Traslacional San Alberto Magno, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain
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