Oral immunization with a recombinant major grass pollen allergen induces blocking antibodies in mice.
BACKGROUND
Immunotherapy for the treatment of pollen allergies traditionally involves a series of parenteral injections of a crude pollen extract. Successful application of this treatment results in the development of systemic tolerance to the sensitizing allergens, including the induction of blocking antibodies.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to investigate whether oral immunization with a recombinant pollen allergen could induce a systemic immune response, and the production of systemic blocking antibodies in mice.


METHODS
C57BL/10 mice were orally administered rLol p 5 or sodium chloride solution via gavage.


RESULTS
We report that the oral administration of rLol p 5 induced a systemic immune response, including the induction of both blocking and interspecific cross-reactive antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that oral administration of a major grass pollen allergen can induce the development of a systemic immune response including the production of systemic blocking and cross-reactive antibodies, a response that may offer immunological protection upon subsequent allergen exposure.
de Weerd
Nicole
N
Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Bhalla
Prem L
PL
Singh
Mohan B
MB
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008129:Lolium / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C084941:Lol p V protein, Lolium perenne; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E