PREDICTION OF MURINE MHC CLASS-I EPITOPES IN A MAJOR HOUSE-DUST MITE ALLERGEN AND INDUCTION OF T1-TYPE CD8(-CELL RESPONSES() T)

The group I (Der p 1) allergen of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (hous e dust mite, HDM) contains several T helper (T-h) epitopes recognized by C57BL/6 mice, with the peptide (111-139) containing a dominant MHC class II-restricted epitope (113-127). Since CD8(+) T cells are though t to play a role in the regulation of allergic disease, we examined th e Der p 1 sequence for potential MHC class I-binding motifs and observ ed that residues 111-119 (FGISNYCQI) contain motifs for H-2D(b) and K- b. Furthermore, immunization of C57BL/6 mice with unadjuvanted Ty viru s-like particles (VLP) carrying Der p 1 (111-139), a method known to i nduce murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, primed Der p 1 (1 11-119)-specific D-b-restricted CTL which produce high levels of IFN-g amma and low levels of IL-5 and IL-6 in vitro (T1-type CTL). VLP carry ing the minimal epitope (FGISNYCQI) also induced a CTL response follow ing immunization without adjuvant by various routes, Der p 1 (111-139) -VLP adjuvanted with alum did not prime CTL in C57BL/6 mice but were f ound to prime T(h)1-type CD4(+) T cells that recognize the overlapping peptide (113-127) and native protein, The ability to successfully pre dict allergen-specific CD8(+) T cell epitopes and prime CD8(+) and/or CD4(+) T cell responses provides an opportunity to dissect the relativ e roles of these T cells in the regulation of allergic responses and m ay offer therapeutic potential far reprogramming T(h)2-type allergic r esponses.