Analysis of Fel d 1-specific T cells after airway allergen challenge in asthma

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PROJECT SUMIVIARY (See instructions): Allergen inhalation by atopic asthmatics in the laboratory results in most of the manifestations of asthma, including reversible airflow obstruction, AHR and airway inflammation. This methodology has been used to examine the mechanisms of eosinophil, T-cell, and dendritic cell trafficking to/from the bone marrow to/from the blood and to the airways. The current proposal will capitalize on the unique opportunity offered by this allergen-specific model of direct bronchial challenge, by using MHC class II allergen tetramer reagents to enrich and characterize, ex vivo, Fel d 1 epitope-specific T cells before and after a localized bronchial allergen challenge. The overarching hypothesis of this proposal is that trafficking of allergen-specific T cells (tetramer+) from the blood to the airways and bone marrow is associated with the development of the late asthmatic reaction. This study will measure the frequency of Fel d 1-specific T cells, how these cells traffic between relevant compartments (blood, bone marrow and airways) and how their functional phenotype changes in response to allergen challenge. The specific aims of this proposal are: Aim 1: To determine the frequency and functional phenotype of Fel d 1-specific (Fel d 1 MHC class II tetramer+) T cells in the blood and the airways following lung segmental allergen challenge. Aim 2: To determine the frequency and functional phenotype of Fel d 1-specific (Fel d 1 MHC class II tetramer+) T cells in the bone marrow following lung segmental allergen challenge. Aim 3: To determine the frequency and functional phenotype of Fel d 1-specific (Fel d 1 MHC class II tetramer+) T cells in the blood, the airways (BAL and digested lung tissue), the lymph nodes draining the airways, the spleen and the bone marrow following inhaled allergen challenge in an HLA-DR4-transgenic murine model of allergic airways disease, and to assess the effects of peptide immunotherapy, using components of a human vaccine currently in clinical trials, on these parameters. The results of these studies will help to clarify how allergen-specific T cells contribution to the pathogenesis of asthma and inform development of rational approaches to therapeutic intervention.