Russano A M, Agea E, Casciari C, de Benedictis F M, Spinozzi F
Laboratory of Experimental Immunology and Allergy, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Allergy. 2008 Nov;63(11):1428-37. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01810.x.
Recent advances in allergy research mostly focussed on two major headings: improving protein allergen purification, which is aimed towards a better characterization of IgE- and T-cell reactive epitopes, and the potential new role for unconventional innate and regulatory T cells in controlling airway inflammation. These advancements could appear to be in conflict each other, as innate T cells have a poorly-defined antigen specificity that is often directed toward nonprotein substances, such as lipids.
To reconcile these contrasting findings, the model of cypress pollinosis as paradigmatic for studying allergic diseases in adults is suggested.
The biochemical characterization of major native protein allergens from undenatured pollen grain demonstrated that the most relevant substance with IgE-binding activity is a glycohydrolase enzyme, which easily denaturizes in stored grains. Moreover, lipids from the pollen membrane are implicated in early pollen grain capture and recognition by CD1(+) dendritic cells (DC) and CD1-restricted T lymphocytes. These T cells display Th0/Th2 functional activity and are also able to produce regulatory cytokines, such as IL-10 and TGF-beta. CD1(+) immature DCs expand in the respiratory mucosa of allergic subjects and are able to process both proteins and lipids.
A final scenario may suggest that expansion and functional activation of CD1(+) DCs is a key step for mounting a Th0/Th2-deviated immune response, and that such innate response does not confer long-lasting protective immunity.
过敏研究的最新进展主要集中在两个主要方面：改进蛋白质过敏原纯化，旨在更好地表征IgE和T细胞反应性表位；以及非常规固有T细胞和调节性T细胞在控制气道炎症中的潜在新作用。这些进展似乎相互矛盾，因为固有T细胞的抗原特异性定义不明确，通常针对非蛋白质物质，如脂质。
为了调和这些相互矛盾的发现，建议以柏树花粉症模型作为研究成人过敏性疾病的范例。
对未变性花粉粒中主要天然蛋白质过敏原的生化表征表明，具有IgE结合活性的最相关物质是一种糖水解酶，它在储存的花粉粒中容易变性。此外，花粉膜中的脂质与CD1(+)树突状细胞（DC）和CD1限制性T淋巴细胞对花粉粒的早期捕获和识别有关。这些T细胞表现出Th0/Th2功能活性，也能够产生调节性细胞因子，如IL-10和TGF-β。CD1(+)未成熟DC在过敏受试者的呼吸道黏膜中扩增，并且能够处理蛋白质和脂质。
最终情况可能表明，CD1(+)DC的扩增和功能激活是引发Th0/Th2偏向性免疫反应的关键步骤，并且这种固有反应不会赋予持久的保护性免疫。
