Sublingual Immunotherapy for Experimental Allergic Conjunctivitis in a Murine Model Induced by Dermatophagoides farinae Allergen

• Published in: International archives of allergy and immunology Vol. 161; no. 3; pp. 205 - 212
• Main Authors: Liu, Li-lin, Guo, Dan-dan, Liang, Qiao-xia, Ding, Shan, Chen, Jing-ya, Wu, Bing, Li, Qin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Administration, Sublingual; Allergies; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents - therapeutic use; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - immunology; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - therapeutic use; Arthropod Proteins - immunology; Arthropod Proteins - therapeutic use; Conjunctiva - pathology; Conjunctivitis, Allergic - immunology; Conjunctivitis, Allergic - therapy; Cysteine Endopeptidases - immunology; Cysteine Endopeptidases - therapeutic use; Cytokines; Dermatophagoides farinae; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulins; Immunotherapy; Immunotherapy, Active; Interleukin-4 - blood; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Original Paper; Th2 Cells - cytology; Allergic conjunctivitis; Interleukin-4; Interferon-γ; Dermatophagoides farinae; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin E; Sublingual immunotherapy; Murine model
• ISSN: 1018-2438; 1423-0097
• DOI: 10.1159/000346335

Background: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a clinically effective treatment in allergic conjunctivitis (AC); however, the mechanism of the underlying pharmacodynamics remains unclear. Here, we investigate the efficacy and the mechanism of a sublingually administered Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) vaccine in a murine AC model. Methods: A murine model of AC caused by Der f extract was developed in BALB/c mice by repeated application of allergen. Sensitized mice were SLIT treated by Der f drops and subsequently analyzed for AC symptoms, histopathological and immunological parameters. Results: In this study, Der f extract successfully induced the symptoms of AC in BALB/c mice. In these sensitized mice, clinical symptoms (scratching behavior, lacrimation, conjunctival hyperemia and edema), immunological and histopathological findings (inflammatory cell infiltration) were very similar to those in human AC. SLIT treatment of sensitized mice markedly reduced the clinical and histopathological symptoms and decreased the expression levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), Der f-specific IgE and T helper cell 2 (Th2) cytokine interleukin-4, with a significant increase in Der f-specific IgG4 and Th1 cytokine interferon-γ. Conclusions: SLIT with Der f drops is a potentially effective means of immunotherapy for Der f-induced AC by modulating the Th2-biased allergic immune response.