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news.US biotech firm Generex Biotechnology is embarking upon a research collaboration with the Paris-based pharmaceutical company Stallergenes to investigate potential methods of controlling severe asthma and allergies with a protein derivative discovered by scientists working for Generex.
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The partnership has been created through a subsidiary company of Generex, Antigen Express, who discovered the mechanisms of the so called “Li” protein which is to be the subject of the research. The financial arrangements of the project have not been disclosed.
The studies are to design and test Ii-Key/allergen epitope hybrid peptides to create a novel approach for the control of both dangerous forms of asthma and functionally disabling allergic reactions. A large number of individuals in both North America and Europe suffer from various forms of allergic responses. These range from allergic rhinitis to cat dander, to ragweed hayfever, to potentially fatal asthmatic attacks from bee sting or peanut allergens.
Antigen Express scientists have discovered that a segment of the immunoregulatory protein called Ii, acts on the HLA-DR molecules, which present antigenic peptide epitopes of allergens to T regulatory lymphocytes. By coupling this Ii-Key peptide covalently to the antigenic epitope peptides, the potency of the HLA-DR presented epitope is increased about 200 times in cell culture experiments and about eight to ten times after injecting animals.
Allergists have been seeking a method to stimulate T helper cells in a manner that directs the immune response away from the allergic pattern. Allergy symptoms arise when a T helper cell type 2 (TH2) response occurs to an environmental antigen, stimulating production of immunoglobulin E (IgE).
When IgE is crosslinked by recognition of an allergen protein, on the surface of mast cells and basophils, histamine and other mediators of allergy are released. A wide range of responses can be found ranging from local redness and swelling in the skin, itchy nose, ears, roof of mouth, watery eyes and sneezing, to severe bronchoconstriction requiring powerful medicines and potentially intubation and respiratory support.
Antigen Express scientists have found that their established approach to stimulating responses to cancer and infectious disease antigens stimulates a strong TH1 response, away from a TH2 response. That is exactly the pattern sought in research studies to tune down allergic reactions. This method of treatment goes directly to the cause of the allergic response, rather than just treatment of symptoms.