B-cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin-binding protein-induced type 2 airway inflammation in a Blomia tropicalis-murine model

Abstract Background Peptide immunotherapy (PIT) offers a safe and effective treatment with minimal side effects. This study aims to identify B-cell epitopes of a novel allergen from Blomia tropicalis (B. tropicalis), specifically the Chitin-binding domain type 2 (ChtBD2) protein, and evaluate the th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jiale Zhang, Wenting Luo, YuBao Cui, Baoqing Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Respiratory Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03207-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850184664363302912
author Jiale Zhang
Wenting Luo
YuBao Cui
Baoqing Sun
author_facet Jiale Zhang
Wenting Luo
YuBao Cui
Baoqing Sun
author_sort Jiale Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Peptide immunotherapy (PIT) offers a safe and effective treatment with minimal side effects. This study aims to identify B-cell epitopes of a novel allergen from Blomia tropicalis (B. tropicalis), specifically the Chitin-binding domain type 2 (ChtBD2) protein, and evaluate the therapeutic effects of peptide treatment in a murine model. Methods Using Alphafold2, the 3D structure of ChtBD2 was constructed. AI-based and traditional computational tools predicted the predominant B-cell epitopes. Twelve synthesized peptides were assessed for allergenicity and immunogenicity. A murine model of B. tropicalis-induced allergic airway inflammation mimicking human atopic asthma was developed and analyzed. Results Predominant B-cell epitopes of ChtBD2 were identified as promising IgE-binding domains. Peptide 1 (PT1: 1–15) showed significant IgE-binding activity and the highest inhibition rate in competitive IgE-binding assays. PT1 upregulated IL-4, IL-13, and CD63 in B. tropicalis-sensitized patients’ PBMCs and basophils, respectively. Notably, IT groups showed reduced lung cellular infiltration and type 2 cytokine expression in BALF. Specific IgE levels were reduced, with a decline in the IgG1/IgG2a ratio. Conclusions This study represents the first AI-facilitated development of a B-cell epitope-based ChtBD2 PIT, showing promise as an immunotherapy for B. tropicalis-allergic patients with reduced allergenicity and high immunogenicity in inducing IgG-blocking antibodies. Clinical trial Not applicable.
format Article
id doaj-art-4a77bdc19d424bfb8ffe56e5aa44468b
institution OA Journals
issn 1465-993X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Respiratory Research
spelling doaj-art-4a77bdc19d424bfb8ffe56e5aa44468b2025-08-20T02:16:59ZengBMCRespiratory Research1465-993X2025-04-0126111410.1186/s12931-025-03207-8B-cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin-binding protein-induced type 2 airway inflammation in a Blomia tropicalis-murine modelJiale Zhang0Wenting Luo1YuBao Cui2Baoqing Sun3Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityClinical Research Center, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Background Peptide immunotherapy (PIT) offers a safe and effective treatment with minimal side effects. This study aims to identify B-cell epitopes of a novel allergen from Blomia tropicalis (B. tropicalis), specifically the Chitin-binding domain type 2 (ChtBD2) protein, and evaluate the therapeutic effects of peptide treatment in a murine model. Methods Using Alphafold2, the 3D structure of ChtBD2 was constructed. AI-based and traditional computational tools predicted the predominant B-cell epitopes. Twelve synthesized peptides were assessed for allergenicity and immunogenicity. A murine model of B. tropicalis-induced allergic airway inflammation mimicking human atopic asthma was developed and analyzed. Results Predominant B-cell epitopes of ChtBD2 were identified as promising IgE-binding domains. Peptide 1 (PT1: 1–15) showed significant IgE-binding activity and the highest inhibition rate in competitive IgE-binding assays. PT1 upregulated IL-4, IL-13, and CD63 in B. tropicalis-sensitized patients’ PBMCs and basophils, respectively. Notably, IT groups showed reduced lung cellular infiltration and type 2 cytokine expression in BALF. Specific IgE levels were reduced, with a decline in the IgG1/IgG2a ratio. Conclusions This study represents the first AI-facilitated development of a B-cell epitope-based ChtBD2 PIT, showing promise as an immunotherapy for B. tropicalis-allergic patients with reduced allergenicity and high immunogenicity in inducing IgG-blocking antibodies. Clinical trial Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03207-8B-cell epitopesPeptide immunotherapyBlomia tropicalisChitin-binding domain type 2 (ChtBD2) proteinArtificial intelligence
spellingShingle Jiale Zhang
Wenting Luo
YuBao Cui
Baoqing Sun
B-cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin-binding protein-induced type 2 airway inflammation in a Blomia tropicalis-murine model
Respiratory Research
B-cell epitopes
Peptide immunotherapy
Blomia tropicalis
Chitin-binding domain type 2 (ChtBD2) protein
Artificial intelligence
title B-cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin-binding protein-induced type 2 airway inflammation in a Blomia tropicalis-murine model
title_full B-cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin-binding protein-induced type 2 airway inflammation in a Blomia tropicalis-murine model
title_fullStr B-cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin-binding protein-induced type 2 airway inflammation in a Blomia tropicalis-murine model
title_full_unstemmed B-cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin-binding protein-induced type 2 airway inflammation in a Blomia tropicalis-murine model
title_short B-cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin-binding protein-induced type 2 airway inflammation in a Blomia tropicalis-murine model
title_sort b cell epitope peptide immunotherapy alleviates chitin binding protein induced type 2 airway inflammation in a blomia tropicalis murine model
topic B-cell epitopes
Peptide immunotherapy
Blomia tropicalis
Chitin-binding domain type 2 (ChtBD2) protein
Artificial intelligence
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-025-03207-8
work_keys_str_mv AT jialezhang bcellepitopepeptideimmunotherapyalleviateschitinbindingproteininducedtype2airwayinflammationinablomiatropicalismurinemodel
AT wentingluo bcellepitopepeptideimmunotherapyalleviateschitinbindingproteininducedtype2airwayinflammationinablomiatropicalismurinemodel
AT yubaocui bcellepitopepeptideimmunotherapyalleviateschitinbindingproteininducedtype2airwayinflammationinablomiatropicalismurinemodel
AT baoqingsun bcellepitopepeptideimmunotherapyalleviateschitinbindingproteininducedtype2airwayinflammationinablomiatropicalismurinemodel