No effective therapeutic strategies have been developed against
food allergies.
Immunomodulation during early infant period could prevent the development of
food allergies. We investigated the preventive effects of human hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells (hHMSCs) in mice with
ovalbumin (OVA)-induced
food allergy. BALB/c mice with OVA-induced
food allergy were divided into 3 groups, and each group was treated with hHMSCs or hHMSC culture medium (hHMSC-CM) or saline. Ear thickness,
allergy score, rectal temperature, and
diarrhea occurrence were checked. Total
IgE, OVA-specific
IgE, and mucosal mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1) were measured by ELISA. Other allergic parameters were analyzed using histology specimens, RT-PCR, and flow cytometry. Treatment with hHMSCs or hHMSC-CM significantly suppressed the frequency of anaphylactic response and rectal temperature decline, reduced
diarrhea, total
IgE, OVA-specific
IgE, and mMCP-1. While the treatment decreased the level of Th2
cytokines, it enhanced
IL-10 and TGF-β1
mRNA. Exposure to hHMSC or hHMSC-CM did not generate regulatory T cells, but reduced mast cells. The immunomodulatory effect on the Th2
cytokines was greater in hHMSC-CM than in hHMSCs. hHMSC treatment may be a promising preventive intervention against
food allergy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the key substances released from hHMSC to induce immune tolerance.