title: Ovalbumin modified by gamma irradiation alters its immunological functions and allergic responses.
abstract: It is well known that gamma (gamma)-ray irradiation results in the alteration of biological function of bioactive materials such as proteins, saccharides and lipids. In this study the effect of gamma-irradiation on the chemical and immunological property of an allergen, ovalbumin (OVA), was investigated. Irradiation of more than 10 kGy resulted in the alteration of the structure of OVA. However, OVA treated with 10 kGy irradiation (10 kGy-OVA), but not 100 kGy-OVA, fully maintained immunological reactivity to a monoclonal antibody specific to the intact allergen (clone 14). Mice immunized with 10 kGy- as well as 100 kGy-OVA showed significantly lower antibody response to the allergen than those with intact OVA in a gamma-ray dosage-dependent manner. Especially immunization of both 10 kGy- and 100 kGy-OVA induced a significant decrease of OVA-specific IgE. Splenocytes of mice immunized with irradiated OVA showed a significant reduction in OVA-specific T cell proliferation and the secretion of Th1-type (IFN-gamma and IL-2) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-4 and IL-6). The expression of T cell activation markers such as CD25 and CD44 was also down-regulated in T cells of mice immunized with irradiated OVAs. These results suggest that gamma-ray irradiation of OVA suppress humoral and cellular immune responses specific to the allergen OVA, and the modification method with gamma-irradiation may be available for the control of allergy.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Application Research Division, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongup, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Jae-Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ju-Woon
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yung-Choon
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Mee Ree
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Sook
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Myung-Woo
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Byun
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000906:Antibodies; C476399:Cd44 protein, mouse; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D010047:Ovalbumin