A neonatal swine model for peanut allergy.
BACKGROUND
Peanut allergy represents a significant health threat in the United States. The factors contributing to the severity of the allergic response and the immunopathogenic mechanisms underlying peanut allergy remain to be completely characterized. As yet, no animal model has been developed that will completely mimic the physical, immunologic, and histologic features of food allergy.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this investigation was to develop a neonatal pig model of peanut allergy that would mimic the allergic symptoms and the immunologic and histologic profile of human peanut allergy.


METHODS
Newborn piglets sensitized intraperitoneally with peanut extract and cholera toxin were orally challenged repeatedly with peanut meal. Physical symptoms, including emesis, lethargy, diarrhea, and respiratory distress, were monitored to determine the allergic response. Immunologic assessment was conducted through use of skin testing and the antigenic response to peanut proteins. Histologically, tissues derived from the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon were assessed for morphologic changes after the oral challenge.


RESULTS
Peanut-sensitized pigs responded with physical symptoms that mimicked those seen in double-blinded, placebo-controlled oral food challenges to peanuts in children and adults. Skin testing suggested an IgE-mediated response; this was confirmed by a negative passive cutaneous anaphylaxis response of heat-treated sera obtained from peanut-sensitized animals. Damage to villi of the small intestine was similar to that seen in endoscopically obtained tissue specimens from certain food-allergic individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
The neonatal pig model of peanut allergy mimics the physical and immunologic characteristics of peanut allergy in human beings. The model will be useful for determining IgE-mediated mechanisms and conducting endoscopic histologic assessment of tissues and immunotherapeutic intervention strategies with repeated allergen challenges.
Helm
Ricki M
RM
Division of Allergy/Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72201, USA.
Furuta
Glenn T
GT
Stanley
J Steve
JS
Ye
Jianhui
J
Cockrell
Gael
G
Connaughton
Cathie
C
Simpson
Pippa
P
Bannon
Gary A
GA
Burks
A Wesley
AW
D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013552:Swine
D007074:Immunoglobulin G