Antigen-Specific T Cell Tolerance Down-Regulates Mast Cell Responses in Vivo

• Published in: Cellular immunology Vol. 206; no. 2; pp. 116 - 124
• Main Authors: Treter, Sarah, Luqman, Mohammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.12.2000
• Subjects: Allergens - administration & dosage; Allergens - immunology; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Dinitrophenols - administration & dosage; Dinitrophenols - immunology; Down-Regulation - immunology; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte - administration & dosage; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte - immunology; Fel d 1 antigen; Female; Glycoproteins - administration & dosage; Glycoproteins - immunology; Haptens - administration & dosage; Haptens - immunology; histamine; Histamine Release - immunology; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - immunology; Immune Tolerance - immunology; Immunization, Passive; Immunoglobulin E - administration & dosage; Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Intubation, Intratracheal; mast cell; Mast Cells - immunology; Mast Cells - metabolism; Mast Cells - secretion; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred CBA; Peptide Fragments - administration & dosage; Peptide Fragments - immunology; Serum Albumin - administration & dosage; Serum Albumin - immunology; T lymphocyte; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; tolerance; mast cell; histamine; T lymphocyte; tolerance
• ISSN: 0008-8749; 1090-2163
• DOI: 10.1006/cimm.2000.1739

Fel d I is the major cat allergen that induces asthma and allergic rhinitis in humans. To investigate the mechanism of allergic responses to this allergen, a mouse model was developed. Mice sensitized to chain 1 of Fel d I exhibited T cell responses, B cell responses, and mast cell responses when challenged with the protein. Subcutaneous injections of peptides containing the dominant T cell epitopes of the allergen induced T cell tolerance in presensitized mice. When challenged with the allergen intratracheally, these tolerized mice produced a decreased amount of histamine in vivo. The decrease in histamine release was not solely dependent on the reduction of allergen-specific IgE. These data show that mast cell activity in mice with an ongoing sensitivity to allergen can be regulated through peptide-induced T cell tolerance.