Molecular basis for nonanaphylactogenicity of a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody

IgE Abs mediate allergic responses by binding to specific high affinity rec eptors (Fc epsilon RI) on mast cells and basophils, Therefore, the IgE/Fc e psilon RI interaction is a target for clinical intervention in allergic dis ease. An anti-IgE mAb, termed BSW17, is nonanaphylactogenic, although recog nizing IgE bound to Fc epsilon RI, and interferes with binding of IgE to Fc epsilon RI. Thus, BSW17 represents a candidate Ab for treatment of IgE-med iated disorders. By panning BSW17 against random peptide libraries displaye d on phages, we defined mimotopes that mimic the conformational epitope rec ognized on human IgE, Two types of mimotopes, one within the C epsilon 3 an d one within the C epsilon 4 domain, were identified, indicating that this mAb may recognize either a large conformational epitope or eventually two d istinct epitopes on IgE, On the basis of alignments of the two mimotopes wi th the human IgE sequence, we postulate that binding of BSW17 to the C epsi lon 3 region predominantly blocks binding of IgE to Pc epsilon RI, leading to neutralization of IgE, Moreover, binding of BSW17 to the Ce4 region may explain how BSW17 recognizes Fc epsilon RI-bound IgE, and binding to this r egion may also interfere with degranulation of IgE sensitized cells (basoph ils and mast cells). As a practical application of these findings, mimotope peptides coupled to a carrier protein may be used for the development of a peptide-based anti-allergy vaccine by induction of anti-IgE Abs similar to the current approach of using humanized nonanaphylactogenic anti-IgE Abs a s a passive vaccine.