IgE epitopes of intact and digested Ara h 1: A comparative study in humans and rats

BackgroundAllergen epitope characterization provides valuable information useful for the understanding of proteins as food allergens. It is believed that IgE epitopes in general are conformational, nevertheless, for food allergens known to sensitize through the gastrointestinal tract linear epitopes have been suggested to be of great importance.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify IgE specific epitopes of intact and digested Ara h 1, and to compare epitope patterns between humans and rats.MethodsSera from five peanut allergic patients and five Brown Norway rats were used to identify intact and digested Ara h 1-specific IgE epitopes by competitive immunoscreening of a phage-displayed random hepta-mer peptide library using polyclonal IgE from the individual sera. The resulting peptide sequences were mapped on the surface of a three-dimensional structure of the Ara h 1 molecule to mimic epitopes using a computer-based algorithm.ResultsPatients as well as rats were shown to have individual IgE epitope patterns. All epitope mimics were conformational and found to cluster into three different areas of the Ara h 1 molecule. Five epitope motifs were identified by patient IgE, which by far accounted for most of the eluted peptide sequences. Epitope patterns were rather similar for both intact and digested Ara h 1 as well as for humans and rats.ConclusionsIndividual patient specific epitope patterns have been identified for the major allergen Ara h 1. IgE binding epitopes have been suggested as biomarkers for persistency and severity of food allergy, wherefore recognition of particular epitope patterns or motifs could be a valuable tool for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of food allergy.

► We identify conformational Ara h 1-specific IgE epitopes. ► We identify five Ara h 1-specific IgE epitope motifs. ► Humans and Brown Norway rats have similar IgE epitope patterns. ► IgE-binding epitopes of Ara h 1 survive the gastro-duodenal digestion process. ► Description of a tool for identification of epitope patterns and motif recognition.