Prevention of allergic conjunctivitis in mice by a rice-based edible vaccine containing modified Japanese cedar pollen allergens.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

To determine whether oral immunotherapy with transgenic rice seeds expressing hypoallergenic modified antigens suppresses cedar pollen-induced allergic conjunctivitis by eliciting immune tolerance in mice.

METHODS:

BALB/c mice were fed once a day for 20 days with 220 mg of transgenic rice expressing modified Japanese cedar pollen allergens Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 or with non-transgenic rice seeds as a control. They were then sensitised with two intraperitoneal injections of Japanese cedar pollen in alum before challenge twice with pollen in eye drops. Twenty-four hours after the second challenge, the conjunctiva, spleen, and blood were isolated for histological analysis, cytokine production assays, and measurement of serum immunoglobulin E concentrations, respectively.

RESULTS:

The numbers of eosinophils and total inflammatory cells in the conjunctiva were significantly lower in mice fed the transgenic rice than in those fed non-transgenic rice. The clinical score evaluated at 15 min after antigen challenge was also significantly lower in mice fed the transgenic rice than in those fed non-transgenic rice. The serum concentrations of both total and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E were also significantly lower in mice fed the transgenic rice. Oral vaccination with transgenic rice resulted in significant down-regulation of the allergen-induced production of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-12p70, interferon-γ, and IL-17A by splenocytes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Oral immunotherapy with transgenic rice expressing modified Japanese cedar pollen allergens suppressed pollen-induced experimental allergic conjunctivitis in mice by eliciting immune tolerance. This novel prophylactic approach is potentially safe and effective for allergen-specific oral immunotherapy in allergic conjunctivitis.

• Authors: Ken Fukuda, Waka Ishida, Yosuke Harada, Yuhya Wakasa, Hidenori Takagi, Fumio Takaiwa, Atsuki Fukushima
• Journal: The British journal of ophthalmology (Br J Ophthalmol) Vol. 99 Issue 5 Pg. 705-9 (May 2015) ISSN: 1468-2079 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25563761 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Antigens, Plant
• Cry j I protein, Cryptomeria japonica
• Cry j II protein, Cryptomeria japonica
• Cytokines
• Plant Proteins
• Vaccines, Edible
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Allergens (immunology)
• Animals
• Antigens, Plant (immunology)
• Conjunctivitis, Allergic (immunology, prevention & control)
• Cryptomeria (immunology)
• Cytokines (blood)
• Immune Tolerance
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Immunotherapy
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Oryza
• Plant Proteins (immunology)
• Plants, Genetically Modified
• Pollen (immunology)
• Vaccines, Edible (administration & dosage, immunology)