Induction of oral tolerance to Japanese cedar pollen

Abstract

Oral tolerance is thought to play a role in preventing allergic responses and immune-mediated diseases. An improved mouse model of the oral tolerance to Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) as antigen was developed in order to detect induction of the tolerance, and the immunological characteristics of this model were also elucidated. Oral tolerance was induced by C3H/ HeN mice given an oral administration of 10 mg JCP 7 days before immunization with an i.p. injection of 0.1 mg JCP in complete Freunds adjuvant (CFA). The effects of oral JCP on systemic immunity were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in serum collected on day 7 or 14 after immunization. Oral tolerance to JCP was adequately induced on day 7 after immunization and was more effective in C3H/HeN mice than in BALB/c mice. The tolerance was primarily concerned with the decreased serum levels of antigen-specific IgG. In these mice, oral administration of JCP also suppressed various immune responses to the antigen including delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), total IgE level and anti-JCP IgG1 level. The suppression of these immune responses by the oral antigen was associated with a significant reduction in interleukin-4 (IL-4) production. These findings therefore indicate that this C3H/HeN mice model has potential use in detecting the induction of oral tolerance by JCP, and suggest that this tolerance model may be effective in the treatment and prevention of allergic responses caused by the antigen.

A new murine model of allergic rhinitis by repeated intranasal Cry j 1 challenge

“…Many allergic rhinitis models mimic the major features of allergic rhinitis in humans (6,9,10,13,14). To study the relevant immunological mechanisms of Cj pollinosis and establish new therapeutic approaches, we had previously developed an allergic rhinitis model in B10.S mice elicited by histamine pretreatment and continuous intranasal antigen challenges for 5 days (17).…”

“…Multiple animal models of allergic rhinitis have been used to evaluate pharmacotherapy and immunotherapy (6,9,10,13,14). Nasal blockage and sneezing occur in guinea pigs given repeated inhalation challenges with Cj pollen (10).…”

Establishment of an allergic rhinitis model in mice for the evaluation of nasal symptoms

“…The majority of patients with allergic rhinitis are found to have high levels of allergen-specific IgE (Hashimoto et al, 1995). Many animal models for the study of allergic rhinitis have been reported (Nabe et al, 1998;Sato et al, 1999;Tamura et al, 1986;Kim et al, 2001;Murasugi et al, 2005). Murine models of allergic rhinitis are especially useful for investigating the immunological basis of this disease.…”

α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Plays an Important Role in the Onset of Pollinosis in a Pollen Allergy Mouse Model

“…The majority of patients with allergic rhinitis are found to have high levels of allergen-specific IgE [4]. Many animal models for the study of allergic rhinitis have been reported [5,6,7]. Murine models of allergic rhinitis are especially useful for investigating the immunological basis of this disease.…”

“…Two major allergens, Cry j I and Cry j II, have been isolated from C. japonica pollen [8,9], and an effective animal model using Cry j I has been developed [5,6,7,10,11,12]. Antigen-induced nasal symptoms, late-phase nasal eosinophilia, and serum levels of antigen-specific IgE antibody were evaluated in an ovalbumin-sensitized BALB/c mouse model of allergic rhinitis [6,12,13].…”