Reporter antigens

Albers, R. et al., The use of reporter antigens in the popliteal lymph node assay to assess immunomodulation by chemicals. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 143, 102, 1997. 

Gutting, B.W. et al., A comparison of the direct and reporter antigen popliteal lymph node assay for the detection of immunomodulation by low molecular weight compounds. Toxicol. Sci., 51, 71, 1999. 

Nierkens, S. et al., Evaluation of the use of reporter antigens in an auricular lymph node assay to assess the immunosensitizing potential of drugs. Toxicol. Sci., 79, 90, 2004... 

Direct activation of T cells (e.g., derived from patients) Cell damage (reactive oxygen species, apoptosis, necrosis) LLNA (topical application, indication of hapten-protein conjugation) Oral exposure studies (using bystander or reporter antigens to read out immunosensitization)... 

The LHC I complex consists of Chi a and b bound to three or four polypeptides of 22-25 kDa in pea chloroplasts [118]. Variation in the number and size of the LHC I polypeptides in different plants and in different laboratories may be due to differences in electrophoresis procedures. The LHC I polypeptides migrate in SDS-gel electrophoresis in a position similar to that of the LHC II polypeptides, and the reported antigenic similarity between LHC I and LHC II polypeptides [129] may be due to cross-contamination of the LHC complexes. 

Reporter antigen popliteal lymph node assay... 

Together, these findings indicate that oral exposure to the drugs may induce T cell responses to bystander antigens, such as reporter antigens or maybe autoantigens. The latter needs to be proven in future experiments. 

Nierkens S, Aalbers M, Bol M, van Wijk F, Hassing I, Pieters R (2005) Development of an oral exposure mouse model to predict drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions by using reporter antigens. Toxicol Sci, 83(2) 273-281. 

Carey at al. (2006) used adult BALB/c mice given foot pad injections of Pb at 5, 25, 40, or 50 pg and the popliteal lymph node assay (PLNA) or a variant, reporter antigen-PLNA, to show strongly induced T- and B-cell proliferation and antigen-secreting cells. The results skewed toward T-helper type-2 responses. 

Carey, J.B., AUshire, A., Van Pelt, F.N., 2006. Immune modulation by cadmium and lead in the acute reporter antigen-popliteal lymph node 3 assay. Toxicol. Sci. 91, 113—122. 

Comparisons of antigen carrier systems have been the subject of many studies. The reported antigenic activity depends on the properties of the carrier systems such as their adjuvant effect and/or particle size, and viscosity. For a comparison to be valid, the systems being compared must show similar properties otherwise, the studies are misleading. Based on their properties, already it is evident that emulsion and liposome formulations offer more advantageous results. In our studies we found that multiple emulsions induce more antigenic activity than any cationic particle formulation with the classic subunit vaccine, and they enhance the immunization s efficacy (Bozkir et al, 2004). 

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