Effect of Cry-consensus peptide, a novel recombinant peptide for immunotherapy of Japanese cedar pollinosis, on an experimental allergic rhinitis model in B10.S mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We are developing an immunotherapeutic peptide, Cry-consensus peptide, for Japanese cedar pollinosis. Cry-consensus peptide is a recombinant polypeptide containing six major human T-cell epitopes derived from both Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, two major allergens of Japanese cedar pollen. We examined the effect of Cry-consensus peptide on an allergic rhinitis model in B10.S mice, which have one common T-cell epitope in the Cry-consensus peptide.

METHODS:

B10.S mice were sensitized with Cry j 1/alum, then the Cry-consensus peptide was administered subcutaneously once a week for 5 weeks from the last sensitization. Histamine was dropped in both nostrils (10 microL per nostril) of each mouse on the day before continuous intranasal instillation of Cry j 1. Soon after the final challenge with Cry j 1, the mice were observed for 5 minutes for the resulting number of sneezes. In addition, serum levels of Cry j 1-specific IgE and IgG2a antibody, eosinophil infiltration in nasal tissue, and Cry j 1-specific cytokine production from splenocytes were evaluated.

RESULTS:

Cry-consensus peptide markedly inhibited Cry j 1-induced sneezes, eosinophil infiltration, and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity in nasal tissue. Cry-consensus peptide inhibited the production of anti-Cry j 1 IgE (Th2-mediated) and significantly enhanced anti-Cry j 1 IgG2a (Th1-mediated). In cytokine production from splenocytes, Cry-consensus peptide significantly decreased in IL-4/IFN-gamma and IL-5/IFN-gamma ratios.

CONCLUSIONS:

It was concluded that Cry-consensus peptide effectively controlled allergic responses, which results from shifting from a Th2-dominated to a Th1-dominated immune response.

• Authors: Masako Tsunematsu, Taketo Yamaji, Daisuke Kozutsumi, Rika Murakami, Shigeki Kimura, Kohsuke Kino
• Journal: Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology (Allergol Int) Vol. 56 Issue 4 Pg. 465-72 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 1323-8930 [Print] England
• PMID: 17965586 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
• Membrane Proteins
• Recombinant Proteins
• Tetraspanins
• Tspan13 protein, mouse
• cry-consensus peptide

Topics

• Allergens (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Cryptomeria (immunology)
• Desensitization, Immunologic
• Disease Models, Animal
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (genetics, immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Japan
• Membrane Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Pollen (immunology)
• Recombinant Proteins (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (immunology, pathology, therapy)
• Tetraspanins