Characterising T cell responses to peanut allergens

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 16:01

T cell responses towards major peanut allergens in children with peanut allergy have been compared with those in non-allergic, peanut-sensitized children and non-atopic adult controls.

The study involved the generation of short-term T cell lines and these were subsequently stimulated with crude peanut extract and purified Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3 and Ara h 6. Only the children with peanut allergy were found to have a detectable response to major peanut allergens, as characterized by IL-13 production. The response in these children was the highest after Ara h 3 stimulation and the lowest after Ara h 2 stimulation.

Reference: Flinterman et al. 2010. Clinical & Experimental Allergy. 40(4) pp. 590-597