Suppression of allergen reactive Th2 mediated responses and pulmonary eosinophilia by intranasal administration of an immunodominant peptide is linked to IL-10 production

• Published in: Vaccine 2003-01, Vol.21 (5), p.549-561
• Main Authors: Hall, Gillian, Houghton, Christian G., Rahbek, Janne Uldal, Lamb, Jonathan R., Jarman, Elizabeth R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergens; Allergens - immunology; Allergies; Allergy; Animals; Asthma - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Cloning; Dermatophagoides farinae - immunology; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Eosinophils - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health. Pharmaceutical industry; House dust; Immune Tolerance - immunology; Immunity, Cellular - immunology; Immunization; Immunodominant Epitopes - immunology; Immunoregulation; In vivo animal models; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Interleukin-10 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-13 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-4 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-5 - biosynthesis; Leukocyte Count; Lung - cytology; Lymphocytes; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microencapsulated antigen; Peptides; Peptides - immunology; Population; Production of active biomolecules; Pulmonary Eosinophilia - immunology; Pulmonary Eosinophilia - metabolism; Pulmonary Eosinophilia - prevention & control; Rodents; Studies; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; Vaccins
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(02)00394-8

The potential to induce systemic tolerance following exposure of the airway mucosa to soluble antigen, may be applied therapeutically for the treatment of allergic disease. Since the use of allergen can trigger IgE mediated inflammation, we investigated whether mucosal delivery of a peptide, containing an immunodominant epitope of the Der p1 allergen of house dust mite, can lead to CD4 + Th2 cell tolerance and thus protect against airway inflammatory responses to inhalant allergen. The administration of microencapsulated peptide to the nasal mucosa of mice, protected against airway inflammation, with significant reductions in eosinophil infiltration into the airways following allergen challenge. Der p1 specific antibody levels in sera were not modulated. Allergen reactive CD4 + T cells expressed a tolerized phenotype, with reduction in levels of the cytokines, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ although IL-10 levels were increased. The mucosal administration of a peptide containing an immunodominant region of an allergen can protect against the induction of systemic and local inflammatory responses to allergen challenge.