# Patent

## Title
Modified mite allergen and pharmaceutical uses thereof

## Abstract

The present invention provides a modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein which has ability to inhibit IgE binding when exposed against to the antigen. A method for treating allergy comprising administrating a therapeutically effective dose of the modified D. pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein to a subject suffering from allergy Der p 5 is also provided.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention mainly relates to a modified allergen obtained by altering Der p 5 allergen of house dust mite and the pharmaceutical uses thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Allergy refers to an acquired potential to develop immunologically mediated adverse reaction to normally innocuous substances. Allergic reaction provokes symptoms such as itching, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes, inflammation and fatigue. Many allergic diseases are due to several kinds of symptoms which are developed by sensitization to the antigen causing the diseases. In an allergic disease, an IgE antibody specific for an allergen (e.g. pollens and mite dust) in blood serum and tissue is produced, and when the antibody is exposed again to the antigen, the antibody reacts with the antigen in each tissue. It is normally believed that an allergic reaction includes an early specific immune response and a late inflammatory reaction. It is reported that an allergen mediates the early phase of allergy by stimulating high affinity immunoglobulin (IgE) receptors. Mast cells and basophils, when stimulated by allergens, will release histamine and cytokines. The cytokines released from mast cells and basophils then mediate the late phase of allergy by recruiting inflammatory cells.
It is reported that allergic diseases, such as bronchial asthma, childhood asthma, atopic dermatitis and the like, are mainly caused by allergens from mites living in house dust. Several kinds of proteins of mite allergens, such as Der p 1 and Der p 2, have been identified. Der p 5 is a 14-k Da group 5 mite allergen which contains a 19-residue leader protein and a 113-residue mature protein was cloned and sequenced (Lin et al., Allergens, IgE, mediators, inflammatory mechanisms. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1994; 6:989-996). Although only 60% of mite-allergic children reacted to Der p 5, the IgE reactivity appeared to be stronger than that of Der p 1 and Der p 2 in Taiwan. Furthermore, among the various allergic diseases, the group of children with asthma have significant more reactivity than the group with rhinitis alone. Der p 5 is regarded as a clinically significant allergen in mite allergy.
Various therapies have been pursued in order to treat the symptoms of allergies. Particularly, “oral tolerance” is considered to be an ideal candidate for treatment of an allergic disease. Oral tolerance has been characterized as a state of antigen-specific systemic immunological unresponsiveness or tolerance, which is induced by prior oral administration or feeding of antigen. The primary mechanism by which an orally administered antigen induces tolerance is believed to be via the generation of active suppression or clonal energy.
However, directly administrating wild-type mite allergens may raise an allergic reaction, namely anaphylactic shock, in hyposensitization therapy, because the activity of these wild-type allergens is high. If the binding between the antigen and the IgE antibody is controlled, the cross-linking among the IgE antibodies on mast cells or basophils, and the release of histamine and cytokines are controlled to treat allergic diseases. Regarding Der p 1 and Der p 2, the B-cell epitopes and T-cell epitopes have been demonstrated, and the side-directed mutagenesis of Der p 1 and Der p 2 in order to inhibit IgE binding when exposed again to the antigen has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,311, but nothing on Der p 5 has been disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein, which provides an efficacy in inhibiting IgE binding when exposed again to the antigen in a subject or has a lower allergen activity than wide-type allergens. Therefore, the invention provides a method for treating an allergic disease using the modified D. pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein, in which no anaphylactic shock shows.
One subject of the invention is to provide a modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein comprising some substitutions at one or more residue positions corresponding to the 44th, 77th, 99th, and 103rd amino acid residues of the wild-type D. pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein, in order to minimize the structural change and provide an efficacy in inhibiting IgE binding when exposed again to the antigen in a subject and reducing in vivo allergic reactivity but retaining the ability to trigger peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation. The modified mite allergen Der p 5 protein according to the invention can inhibit IgE binding when exposed again to the antigen.
Another object of the invention is to provide an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding the modified pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein according to the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the isolated DNA molecule comprises one or more substitutions of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
In another aspect, the invention provides a host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule.
The present invention involves a pharmaceutical composition for treating allergic diseases in association with Der p 5 or immunizing against allergic diseases in association with Der p 5, comprising a therapeutically effective dose of the modified D. pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein according to the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
The present invention also involves a method for treating allergic diseases in association with Der p 5 which comprises administrating a therapeutically effective dose of the modified D. pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein according to the invention to a subject suffering from allergic diseases, particularly in association with Der p 5.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates the result of the wild-type Der p 5 antigenicity simulation.
FIG. 2 illustrates the result of the wild-type Der p 5 with several substitutions, in which the antigenicity simulation was changed.
FIG. 3 illustrates the electrophoresis results of the wild type and modified Der p 5 resolved on an SDS-polyacrylamide gel.
FIG. 4 illustrates the result of IgE inhibition ELISA, wherein A presents 10 μg Der p 5; B presents 50 μg Der p 5; C presents 10 μg Dp5p-m2; D presents 50 μg Dp5p-m2; E presents 10 μg Dp5p-m3; F presents 50 μg Dp5p-m3; G presents 10 μg Dp5p-m4; and H presents 50 μg Dp5p-m4.
FIG. 5 illustrates the result of intradermal skin test.
FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate the result of PBMC proliferation assay of Patient 1 and Patient 2, respectively.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the invention is to produce a hypoallergenic form of Der p 5.
The invention provides a modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein, which provides an efficacy in inhibiting IgE binding when exposed again to the antigen in a subject or has a lower allergen activity than wide-type allergens. In one embodiment of the invention, the wild-type allergen has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. According to the invention, the substitutions are at one or more residue positions corresponding to the 44th, 77th, 99th, and 103rd amino acid residues of the wild-type mite allergen Der p 5 protein.
The term “modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen” used herein refers to a gene-engineered mite allergen of which the amino acid sequence is different from that of wild-type allergen. The modified allergen of the present invention can be produced by any method suitable to the aims of the present invention, and preferably by a site-directed mutagenesis method, and more preferably a PCR method. For example, the 44th proline residue of the modified Der p 5 protein (SEQ ID NO:4) is replaced with an alanine residue using the DNA chain as shown in SEQ ID NO:3.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, sites to be modified of the mite allergen (Der p 5) are estimated both in antigenicity and hydrophilicity. The term “antigenicity” used herein refers to ability or a tendency to elicit an allergic response. The antigenicity usually relates to IgE binding ability, B cell binding ability, T cell binding ability, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation stimulating ability. Epitopes of antigen play a crucial role in antigenicity, and the three-dimensional configuration and hydrophilicity are also important. It is acceptable to decrease the antigenicity by changing the configuration of the epitopes but retaining the same hydrophilicity and structure of the total allergen. Many commercial computer software packages are well established for simulating the theoretical antigenicity of an antigen such as MacVector 6.05 computer model.
Several amino acid residues of Der p 5 are shown to dominate the antigenicity, which comprise the aspartic acid at the 2nd position, the aspartic acid at the 6th position, the glutamine at the 8th position, the proline at the 44th position, the lysine at the 77th position, the arginine at the 99th position, and the lysine at the 103rd position, wherein preferably the sites are selected from the group consisting of the 44th, 77th, 99th, and 103rd positions. According to the invention, the modified and hypoallergenic forms of Der p 5 are obtained by changing at least one the amino acid residue at these positions in the wild-type mite allergen Der p 5. In a more preferred embodiment, the modified mite allergen Der p 5 has a changed site at the 44th position that is proline in the wild type.
Amino acid residues selected to replace the residues have different functional group in side chain from those in the wild-type Der p 5. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the residue of the wild type is substituted by an amino acid with an alkyl side chain, and in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the residue is substituted by alanine.
According to the invention, an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding the modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein according to the invention is also provided for manipulations, expression and storage. The isolated DNA molecule can be expressed by using a suitable vector, which can be expressed in a host cell. The term “host cell” used herein refers to a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell which is transformed or transfected with the vector comprising the desired genes, wherein preferably, the host cell can express the desired genes to producing the gene products.
A method of producing the modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein according to the invention is provided, which comprises culturing the host cell carrying the isolated nucleic acid molecule according to the invention under conditions such that said modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein is expressed and produced thereby, and isolating said modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein.
According to the invention, the modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein changed in antigenicity can be used in treating Der p 5 allergic disease which comprises administrating a therapeutically effective dose of the modified Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 to a subject suffering from Der p 5 allergic disease. Because the antigenicity of the modified mite allergen is reduced, anaphylactic shock which may be raised in directly administrating wild-type mite allergens in hyposensitization therapy is avoided. The binding between the antigen and the IgE antibody is controlled and the cross-linking among the IgE antibodies on mast cells or basophils, and the release of chemical mediators are controlled to treat allergic diseases. However, the ability to stimulate PBMC proliferation is still retained.
The term “allergic disease” used herein refers to allergy in association with Der p 5. The allergic disease includes rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, hypersensitive pneumonia, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, conjunctivitis, urticaria, eczema, dermatitis, anaphylaxis, angioedema, allergic and migraine headache, and certain gastrointestinal disorders.
The following Examples are given for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
EXAMPLE 1
Modified Mite Allergen Der p 5 Construction
Antigenicity of Der p 5 simulation: The theoretical IgE epitopes of Der p 5 were predicted with MacVector 6.05 computer model. The amino acid sequence of wild-type Der p 5 was input and calculated according to Antigenic Index listed below (according to MacVector operating guide):

Antigenic Index=Σ{0.3 hydro[i]+0.15surf_prob[i]+0.15 flex[i]+0.2 chou_fas[i]+0.2rob_garn[i]}

The antigenicity of wild-type Der p 5 simulated was shown in FIG. 1. Several sites regarded as having high antigenicity comprising D2, D6, Q8, P44, K77, R99, and K103 were replaced with alanine residue and then input the new amino acid sequence for simulation. The result was shown in FIG. 2. According to the simulation result, the Der p 5 with these sites changed had low antigenicity. For the reason, mutations at these sites were candidates for constructing the hypoallergenic form of Der p 5.
Site-directed mutagenesis: Wild-type Der p 5 gene (SEQ ID NO:1) was cloned in a pQE 60 vector and then mutated by using the QuickChange Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit (Stratagene). The method for constructing the modified Der p 5 was described in the instruction manual of the kit. Dp5p-m2 (Der p 5 with the proline residue at position 44 replaced with alanine) were constructed by using DP5-2F 5′-CATTTTGAAGAAAAAGCGACAAAAGAAATGAAAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9) and DP5-2R 5′-CTTTCATTTCTTTTGTCGCTTTTTCTTCAAAATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:10). The codon CCG was changed to GCG and the proline was changed to alanine. Dp5p-m3 (Der p 5 with the lysine residue at position 77 replaced with alanine) were constructed by using DP5-3F 5′-GATCGTCTTATGCAACGTGCAGATTTAGATA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:11) and DP5-3R 5′-TATCTAAATCTGCACGTTGCATAAGACGAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:12). The codon AAA was changed to GCA and the lysine was changed to alanine. Dp5p-m4 (Der p 5 with the arginine residue at position 99 and the lysine residue at position 103 replaced with alanine) were constructed by using DP5-4F 5′-CATCACGGATCCGAAGCTAAAAAACATGATTATGCGAAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:13) and DP5-4R 5′-CGCGCAAGCTTTTAAACTTCAATCTTTTTAACACGTGCTTCTTCT GCTTTCAAATCAGCTTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:14). The codon usage CGT is changed to GCT and AAA is changed to GCA, and thus the arginine and lysine are both changed to alanine.

Protein expression: The plasmids containing Der p 5, Dp5p-m2, Dp5p-m3, and Dp5p-m4 were transformed into Escherichia coli (M15) XL1-Blue for expression. The bacteria were cultured and the proteins expressed were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The protein sizes of the modified allergen and that of the wild-type Der p 5 were the same (about 14 k Da). The result show that the side-directed mutagenesis was successfully performed (referring to FIG. 3).

EXAMPLE 2
IgE Binding Inhibition of the Modified Mite Allergens
The method for assaying IgE binding inhibition of the modified mite allergens was based on the description by Beezhold et al. (Beezhold et al., Mutational analysis of the IgE epitopes in the latex allergen Hev b 5. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001; 107:1069-1076). Sera from six mite allergy patients who were highly reactive to Der p 5 were taken for the assay. Standardized wild type mite allergen Der p 5 were coated on an ELISA plate, and then blocked. The sera were mixed with the wild-type and modified mite allergens (as inhibitors) and then reacted with Der p 5 coated on the ELISA plate. Biotin-labeled anti-human IgE was then added. Streptavidin-Alkaline phosphatase (Streptavidin-AKP) was labeled and p-Nitrophenyl phosphate (pNpp) was then added as substrate. The absorbance at 405 nm was measured. The percentage inhibition was calculated as below:

[1−(OD of Inhibitor−OD of Background)/(OD of Non-Inhibition−OD of Background)]×100%

The result of IgE inhibition ELISA was shown in FIG. 4. Comparing the wild type and the modified allergens, Dp5p-m2 had stronger ability to inhibit IgE binding when exposed again to the antigen.
EXAMPLE 3
Intradermal Skin Test
The method for assaying intradermal skin test was similar with the description by van Hage-Hamsten et al. (van Hage-Hamsten et al., Skin test evaluation of genetically engineered hypoallergenic derivatives of the major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1: Results obtained with a mix of two recombinant Bet v 1 fragments and recombinant Bet v 1 trimer in a Swedish population before the birch pollen season. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999; 104:969-977). Eight Der p 5 sensitive mite allergy patients were chosen. The wild type and modified Der p 5 were diluted to 1 mg/mL, and 0.05 mL of allergens was taken for each injection site on the patients' forearms 5 cm apart. A reaction of greater than 5×5 mm (diameter) for 15 min. after injection was regarded as a positive response.
The result of intradermal skin test was shown in FIG. 5. All of the modified Der p 5 had lower allergic response than the wild type in the intradermal skin test.
EXAMPLE 4
PBMC Proliferation Assay
The PBMC proliferation assay was performed by using Cell Proliferation ELISA, BrdU (calorimetric) kit (Roche), and the method was described in the instruction manual of the kit. PBMCs at various concentrations (from Der p 5 sensitive mite allergy Patient 1 and Patient 2) were cultured with wild-type and modified Der p 5 for 2 days. PBMCs cultured with Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (PHA) were as the positive control and PBMCs cultured only were as the negative control. The cells were pulsed with BrdU and harvested overnight, and then anti-BrdU-peroxidase (POD) was added. Tetramethyl-benzidine (TMB) as substrate was added and the spectrum of mixture was measure at 655 nm.
The results of the PBMC proliferation assay were shown in FIG. 6a (Patient 1) and FIG. 6b (Patient 2). The numbers of PBMC cultured with wild-type and modified Der p 5 were similar. It was shown that the stimulating PBMC proliferation ability of the modified Der p 5 was retained.
While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications and improvements can be made by persons skilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention is not limited to the particular forms as illustrated, and that all the modifications not departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are within the scope as defined in the appended claims.

## Claims

1. A method for reducing or alleviating symptoms of an allergic disease associated with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of a modified Der p 5 protein to a subject suffering from the allergic disease, wherein at least one of the amino acid residues 44, 77, 99 and 103 of wild-type D. pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 protein of SEQ ID NO:2 is substituted with alanine in the modified Der p 5 protein.

2. A method for reducing or alleviating symptoms of an allergic disease associated with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen Der p 5 comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of a modified Der p 5 protein to a subject suffering from the allergic disease, wherein the modified Der p 5 protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 6 and 8.