IgE Production after Four Routes of Injections of Japanese Cedar Pollen Allergen without Adjuvant: Crucial Role of Resident Cells at Intraperitoneal or Intranasal Injection Site in the Production of Specific IgE toward the Allergen

Abstract

The production of specific IgE antibodies directed toward cedar pollen correlates well with the onset of allergic rhinitis; but the mechanisms of allergen recognition as nonself and Ig class switch to IgE by the immune system are still not fully understood. In the present study, we injected cedar pollen into mice through 4 different routes (intranasal (i.n.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intravenous (i.v.), and subcutaneous (s.c.)) without adjuvant 1 to 3 times, and determined time‐dependent changes in the total and specific serum IgE levels compared with those in the serum levels of other isotype Igs. After an i.p. or i.n. injection of allergen into the mice, they produced a 1.5‐ to 1.7‐fold increase in total IgE, but none in IgG, IgM, or IgA antibodies in their serum, whereas an i.v. or s.c. injection of allergen was inactive as an inducer of total IgE antibodies. Upon a 2nd (s.c.) injection of the allergen into the i.p. or i.n. sensitized mice, a large amount of allergen‐specific IgE antibodies was found in the serum. In the case of i.v. or s.c. sensitized mice, however, they produced total, but not specific, IgE antibodies; and a 3rd (s.c.) injection of the allergen resulted in a large amount of specific IgE antibodies in the serum. These results imply that resident cells at the i.p. or i.n. injection site may play a crucial role in the efficient production of total and specific IgE antibodies toward the allergen.

CRTH2 Plays an Essential Role in the Pathophysiology of Cry j 1-Induced Pollinosis in Mice

“…In fact, it is known that administration of Ags through different routes results in different degrees of IgE production (27,28). Also, murine models of allergic rhinitis have been generated by intranasal or aerosol-mediated sensitization (8,29), but these models generally employ adjuvants such as cholera toxin, which have immunoregulatory effects that may distort the physical sensitization (30,31).…”

In Vivo Analysis of the Anti-allergic Activities of Camellia japonica Extract and Okicamelliaside, a Degranulation Inhibitor

“…The mice were sacrificed under anesthesia and blood samples taken from the heart were used for IgE measurements. 6) Statistical Analysis --Data are expressed as mean ± standard error. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan's new multiple range test with Statistical Analysis System software (ver.…”

IL‐4‐dependent induction of IgE+ basophils in peripheral blood and IgE+ B cells in spleen as respective indicators of allergen sensitization and a precursor of cells secreting allergen‐specific IgE antibody

“…These results reveal that the effects of 1–3 injections of cedar pollen on the number of IgE + cells in the peripheral blood of wild‐type, IFN‐γ ‐/‐, and IL‐4 ‐/‐ BALB/c mice are similar to those on the concentration of serum IgE Ab (14, 15), and suggest that the number of IgE + cells (or the amount of IgE on IgE + cells) might be a sensitive indicator of sensitization with allergen.…”

“…Whereas total IgE Ab was not enhanced significantly in the serum after an s.c. or i.v. injection of cedar pollen (14, 15), there was a significant increase in the number of IgE + cells in the peripheral blood, suggesting that the percentage of IgE + cells in the peripheral blood is a sensitive indicator of allergen sensitization.…”

“…or i.p., (but not i.v. or s.c.), injection of cedar pollen extract; and one or two more s.c. injections of the same allergen into i.n.‐, i.p.‐, i.v.‐ or s.c.‐ allergen‐sensitized mice induce specific IgE Ab production (14, 15). These results indicate that production of total IgE Ab without a change in the IgA, IgG or IgM concentration is a prerequisite for the production of allergen‐specific IgE Abs.…”