Development of an adjuvant-free cashew nut allergy mouse model.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cashew nut allergy is an emerging food allergy with a high risk of systemic anaphylaxis. Currently, an adjuvant-free animal model to study cashew nut allergy is not available.

METHODS:

BALB/c mice were exposed to cashew nut protein using a transdermal sensitization protocol that does not use adjuvant. Systemic IgE antibody response, systemic anaphylaxis to oral challenge and allergen-driven, spleen-cell, type-2 cytokine responses were studied.

RESULTS:

Transdermal exposure to cashew nut resulted in a significant dose-dependent allergic response. Oral challenge of sensitized mice with cashew resulted in severe signs of systemic anaphylaxis and a significant hypothermia. Spleen cell culture with cashew nut protein resulted in allergen-driven IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 responses only in sensitized but not in saline control mice.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data demonstrate that (i) transdermal exposure to cashew nut protein elicits a robust IgE response leading to clinical sensitization of mice for systemic anaphylaxis to oral cashew nut challenge; (ii) cashew nut is a potent activator of type-2 cytokines, thus explaining the mechanism of cashew allergy, and (iii) this mouse model may be useful for further basic and preclinical studies on cashew nut allergy.

• Authors: Sitaram Parvataneni, Babu Gonipeta, Robert J Tempelman, Venu Gangur
• Journal: International archives of allergy and immunology (Int Arch Allergy Immunol) Vol. 149 Issue 4 Pg. 299-304 ( 2009) ISSN: 1423-0097 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 19295233 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Allergens
• Interleukin-13
• Interleukin-5
• Interleukin-4
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Allergens (immunology)
• Anacardium (immunology)
• Anaphylaxis (immunology)
• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Hypothermia (immunology)
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Interleukin-13 (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Interleukin-4 (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Interleukin-5 (biosynthesis, immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Nut Hypersensitivity (immunology)