# IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF HUMAN RESPONSE TO ALLERGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $208,983

## Abstract

The long term goal of this research is to understand the immunochemical
basis of human immune response, using inhaled pollen allergens as a model.
We will isolate three groups of allergenic proteins in ultra-pure state,
toward which responsiveness is associated with HLA-DR2/Dw2, DR5, or
DR3/Dw3.  Studies of Ia determinants, recognized by different human HLA-D
specificities, and of B-cell determinants, recognized by different human
IgE and IgG antibodies, will be carried out.  In particular, we will
address the question regarding how immune responsiveness toward multiple
non-crossreactive antigens can be associated with the same HLA-DR
specificity.

Immunochemical studies will be carried out using three groups of pollen
allergens: a) the homologous group of Amb V (Ra5) allergens from three or
four species of Ambrosiinae (ragweed sub-tribe), toward which immune
responsiveness is associated with HLA-DR2/Dw2; b) the homologous group of
Amb VI (Ra6) allergens from at least two species of Ambrosiinae, toward
which responsiveness is associated with HLA-DR5 for the Amb a VI (short
ragweed Ra6) prototype; c) the related Lo1 p I, II and III (Rye I, II and
III) allergens from Lolium perenne pollen, toward which responsiveness is
associated with HLA-DR3/Dw3.

DNA Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms will be studied using a DR2B
ta probe among several different Amb V-responder/non-responder phenotypes
in order to investigate the heterogeneity of HLA-DR2 within the various
subjects.

We will also continue collaborative studies on the role of
auto-anti-idiotypes in regulating the levels of specific IgG and IgE
antibodies to Lo1 p I in patients receiving grass immunotherapy.

A unique asset will be the availability of two well-characterized
populations:  ca. 350 local clinic patients who have been extensively
studied clinically and immunologically as a result of their participation
in various studies of allergen immunotherapy at the Good Samaritan Hospital
and ca. 500 subjects from an epidemiologic-genetic study of human immune
response to allergens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129103
- **Project number:** 5R01AI019727-05
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FTMTDMBR29C7
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID GEORGE MARSH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $208,983
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-08-01 → 1991-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129103

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129103, IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF HUMAN RESPONSE TO ALLERGENS (5R01AI019727-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129103. Licensed CC0.

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