Gastrointestinal Immune Response to the Shrimp Allergen Tropomyosin: Histological and Immunological Analysis in an Animal Model of Shrimp Tropomyosin Hypersensitivity

• Published in: International archives of allergy and immunology Vol. 167; no. 1; pp. 29 - 40
• Main Authors: Lam, Yin Fan, Tong, Ka Kui, Kwan, Kin Ming, Tsuneyama, Koichi, Shu, Shang-An, Leung, Patrick S.C., Chu, Ka Hou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cell Movement - immunology; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines; Cytokines - genetics; Decapoda; Development and progression; Disease Models, Animal; Duodenum - immunology; Eosinophils - cytology; Epithelial Cells - immunology; Female; Food allergies; Food allergy; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Gastrointestinal mucosa; Gastrointestinal Tract - immunology; Goblet Cells - cytology; Health aspects; Ileum - immunology; Immune response; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Immunology; Inflammation - immunology; Jejunum - immunology; Mast Cells - cytology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Original Paper; Penaeidae - immunology; Proteins - immunology; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Seafood; Shellfish; Tropomyosin - immunology; China; Switzerland, Basel; Seafood allergy; Cytokines; Tropomyosin; Mucosal immunology
• ISSN: 1018-2438; 1423-0097
• DOI: 10.1159/000431228

Background: Shellfish hypersensitivity is among the most common food allergies. A murine model of IgE-mediated shrimp allergy has been established in our laboratory. The aim of this study is to determine the intestinal histological changes and cytokine expression profile of this model sensitized with the major shellfish allergen tropomyosin. Methods: Female Balb/c mice orally sensitized and challenged with recombinant tropomyosin were sacrificed. Continuous sections of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were prepared using the Swiss roll technique for histological and immunological analysis. Duodenal epithelial cell apoptosis and migration were examined. mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-18 and IFN-γ in intestinal tissue was measured via RT-PCR. Results: In tropomyosin-sensitized and challenged mice, an increased number of eosinophils, mast cells and goblet cells was found 24 h after challenge. There were also increased mast cell and goblet cell numbers at 72 h after challenge, but the level of eosinophils decreased. Differences compared with control mice are most prominent at the duodenum compared to the distal regions. In addition, TUNEL assay indicates a significantly higher apoptosis rate in sensitized mice sacrificed 72 h after challenge, and mRNA expression showed a biased Th2/Th1 cytokine profile and a higher level of murine mast cell protease 1. Conclusions: This study documented a multitude of histological and immunological changes in the gut in a murine model of shrimp allergy. Even without repetitive intragastric challenge, shrimp tropomyosin induces an increase in the number of inflammatory cells to varying degrees within the small intestine. This model provides an important tool for testing new therapeutic interventions.