title: Major royal jelly protein 3 modulates immune responses in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: We have recently shown that royal jelly has potent antiallergic properties in a mouse model of immediate hypersensitivity. However, it is still unclear which components of royal jelly exhibit antiallergic activity. In this study, we have screened for antiallergic factors in royal jelly based on inhibition of IL-4 production by anti-CD3 stimulated spleen cells derived from OVA/alum-immunized mice. Using a series of column chromatographies, we purified a 70 kDa glycoprotein, major royal jelly protein 3 (MRJP3), that suppresses IL-4 production. In in vitro experiments, MRJP3 suppressed the production of not only IL-4 but also that of IL-2 and IFN-gamma by T cells concomitant with inhibition of proliferation. The MRJP3-mediated suppression of IL-4 production was also evident when lymph node cells from OVA/alum-immunized mice were stimulated with OVA plus antigen presenting cells. We next examined the purified suppressive factor on OVA/alum-induced allergic responses in mice. Interestingly, in spite of the antigenicity of MRJP3 itself as an extraneous foreign protein, intraperitoneal administration of MRJP3 inhibited serum anti-OVA IgE and IgG1 levels in immunized mice. In addition, heat-treated soluble MRJP3 treatment reduced its antigenicity while maintaining its inhibitory effects on antibody responses to OVA. These results indicate that MRJP3 can exhibit potent immunoregulatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, considering the intriguing immunomodulatory effects of MRJP3, it may be of clinical significance to design MRJP3-derived antiallergic peptides by identifying the associated polypeptide regions.
authors.affiliation: Fujisaki Institute, Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., 675-1 Fujisaki, 702-8006 Okayama, Japan. kohnok@hayashibara.co.jp
authors.forename: Iwao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunikata
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Kanso
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwaki
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000099219:Royal Jelly
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; D016207:Cytokines; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010047:Ovalbumin; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D000099219:Royal Jelly; C109593:MRJP3 protein, Apis mellifera