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Bauernfeind C, Zettl I, Ivanova T, Goryainova O, Weijler AM, Pranz B, Drescher A, Focke-Tejkl M, Pavkov-Keller T, Eckl-Dorna J, Tillib SV, Flicker S. Trimeric Bet v 1-specific nanobodies cause strong suppression of IgE binding. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1343024. [PMID: 38784378 PMCID: PMC11112410 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1343024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Around 20% of the population in Northern and Central Europe is affected by birch pollen allergy, with the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 as the main elicitor of allergic reactions. Together with its cross-reactive allergens from related trees and foods, Bet v 1 causes an impaired quality of life. Hence, new treatment strategies were elaborated, demonstrating the effectiveness of blocking IgG antibodies on Bet v 1-induced IgE-mediated reactions. A recent study provided evidence for the first time that Bet v 1-specific nanobodies reduce patients´ IgE binding to Bet v 1. In order to increase the potential to outcompete IgE recognition of Bet v 1 and to foster cross-reactivity and cross-protection, we developed Bet v 1-specific nanobody trimers and evaluated their capacity to suppress polyclonal IgE binding to corresponding allergens and allergen-induced basophil degranulation. Methods Nanobody trimers were engineered by adding isoleucine zippers, thus enabling trimeric formation. Trimers were analyzed for their cross-reactivity, binding kinetics to Bet v 1, and related allergens, and patients' IgE inhibition potential. Finally, their efficacy to prevent basophil degranulation was investigated. Results Trimers showed enhanced recognition of cross-reactive allergens and increased efficiency to reduce IgE-allergen binding compared to nanobody monomers. Furthermore, trimers displayed slow dissociation rates from allergens and suppressed allergen-induced mediator release. Conclusion We generated high-affine nanobody trimers that target Bet v 1 and related allergens. Trimers blocked IgE-allergen interaction by competing with IgE for allergen binding. They inhibited IgE-mediated release of biological mediators, demonstrating a promising potential to prevent allergic reactions caused by Bet v 1 and relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Bauernfeind
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ines Zettl
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tatiana Ivanova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oksana Goryainova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Marianne Weijler
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Pranz
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Margarete Focke-Tejkl
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Tea Pavkov-Keller
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioHealth Field of Excellence, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Julia Eckl-Dorna
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sergei V. Tillib
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sabine Flicker
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Strobl MR, Demir H, Wozniak-Knopp G, Wangorsch A, Rüker F, Bohle B. Easy assessment of the avidity of polyclonal allergen-specific serum antibodies. Clin Exp Allergy 2024; 54:278-285. [PMID: 38183336 DOI: 10.1111/cea.14448] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Allergen-specific IgE-blocking IgG antibodies contribute to successful allergen immunotherapy (AIT), however, not much is known about their affinity. Since affinity measurements of polyclonal antibodies in serum are technically challenging we evaluated the applicability of acidic disruption of antibody-allergen complexes by a modified ELISA protocol with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for the relevant major allergens Betv1 and Mald1. Then, AIT-induced blocking and non-blocking Mald1-specific antibodies in sera from individuals with or without reduced apple allergy were compared. METHODS After testing their pH stability coated recombinant allergens were incubated with (i) mAbs diluted in PBS or human serum and (ii) sera from individuals after sublingual administration of Mald1 or Betv1 for 16 weeks. Immune complexes were exposed to buffers in the pH range of 6.4-3.4 and residual antibodies were measured. Avidity indexes (AI), defined as the pH removing 50% of antibodies, were compared to the dissociation constants (KD) of mAbs determined by surface plasmon resonance. RESULTS The selected pH range was applicable to disrupt allergen complexes with highly affine mAbs without compromising allergen integrity. AIs of mAbs accorded with KD values and were unaffected by epitope specificity or the presence of serum proteins. The inter-assay variability was <4% CV. Protective Mald1-specific IgG antibodies from individuals with reduced apple allergy showed a higher collective binding strength than that of the non-protective antibodies of individuals without reduced apple allergy. CONCLUSION Acidic disruption of allergen-antibody complexes may be used to estimate the net-binding force of polyclonal serum antibodies and eases the investigation of affinity-related research questions in AIT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria R Strobl
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hilal Demir
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gordana Wozniak-Knopp
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Florian Rüker
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Bohle
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Fernandes LGR, Spillner E, Jakob T. Potential and limitations of epitope mapping and molecular targeting in Hymenoptera venom allergy. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2023; 4:1327391. [PMID: 38162556 PMCID: PMC10755883 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2023.1327391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Hymenoptera venom (HV) allergy can lead to life threatening conditions by specific IgE (sIgE)-mediated anaphylactic reactions. The knowledge about major allergens from venom of different clinically relevant species increased in the last decades, allowing the development of component-resolved diagnostics in which sIgE to single allergens is analysed. Despite these advances, the precise regions of the allergens that bind to IgE are only known for few HV allergens. The detailed characterization of IgE epitopes may provide valuable information to improve immunodiagnostic tests and to develop new therapeutic strategies using allergen-derived peptides or other targeted approaches. Epitope-resolved analysis is challenging, since the identification of conformational epitopes present in many allergens demands complex technologies for molecular analyses. Furthermore, functional analysis of the epitopeś interaction with their respective ligands is needed to distinguish epitopes that can activate the allergic immune response, from those that are recognized by irrelevant antibodies or T cell receptors from non-effector cells. In this review, we focus on the use of mapping and molecular targeting approaches for characterization of the epitopes of the major venom allergens of clinically relevant Hymenoptera species. The screening of the most relevant allergen peptides by epitope mapping could be helpful for the development of molecules that target major and immunodominant epitopes blocking the allergen induced cellular reactions as novel approach for the treatment of HV allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Gustavo Romani Fernandes
- Experimental Dermatology and Allergy Research Group, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Gießen-Marburg, Justus Liebig University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Internal Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas-SP, Brazil
| | - Edzard Spillner
- Immunological Biotechnology, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thilo Jakob
- Experimental Dermatology and Allergy Research Group, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Medical Center Gießen-Marburg, Justus Liebig University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
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Ding Z, Mulder J, Robinson MJ. The origins and longevity of IgE responses as indicated by serological and cellular studies in mice and humans. Allergy 2023; 78:3103-3117. [PMID: 37417548 PMCID: PMC10952832 DOI: 10.1111/all.15799] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The existence of long-lived IgE antibody-secreting cells (ASC) is contentious, with the maintenance of sensitization by the continuous differentiation of short-lived IgE+ ASC a possibility. Here, we review the epidemiological profile of IgE production, and give an overview of recent discoveries made on the mechanisms regulating IgE production from mouse models. Together, these data suggest that for most individuals, in most IgE-associated diseases, IgE+ ASC are largely short-lived cells. A subpopulation of IgE+ ASC in humans is likely to survive for tens of months, although due to autonomous IgE B cell receptor (BCR) signaling and antigen-driven IgE+ ASC apoptosis, in general IgE+ ASC probably do not persist for the decades that other ASC are inferred to do. We also report on recently identified memory B cell transcriptional subtypes that are the likely source of IgE in ongoing responses, highlighting the probable importance of IL-4Rα in their regulation. We suggest the field should look at dupilumab and other drugs that prohibit IgE+ ASC production as being effective treatments for IgE-mediated aspects of disease in most individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhoujie Ding
- Department of ImmunologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Jesse Mulder
- Department of ImmunologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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