T cell epitopes of a lipocalin allergen colocalize with the conserved regions of the molecule

In this study,ve characterized the human T cell-reactive sites of the major cow dander allergen, Bos d 2, a member of the lipocalin protein family. We showed that Bos d 2 contains only a limited number of epitopes, This is in contrast to many other allergens, which usually contain multiple T cell ep itopes throughout the molecule. The epitopes of Bos d 2 were primarily conc entrated in the conserved regions of the molecule, One of the epitopes was recognized by all the cow-asthmatic individuals regardless of their HLA phe notype, Computer-predicted T cell epitopes on Bos d 2, other lipocalin alle rgens, and human endogenous lipocalins were situated in similar locations o n these molecules and corresponded to experimentally identified epitopes on Bos d 2, The results suggest that human endogenous lipocalins could be inv olved in the modulation of immune responses against exogenous lipocalin all ergens. In addition, our findings are likely to facilitate the development of new forms of immunotherapy against allergies induced by the important gr oup of lipocalin allergens.