Apolipoprotein A-IV is a candidate target molecule for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem that causes major illnesses and disability worldwide. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only available treatment that can alter the natural course of allergic disease. However, the precise mechanism underlying allergen-SIT is not well understood.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the current study was to identify protein expression signatures reflective of allergen-SIT-more specifically, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).


METHODS
Serum was taken twice from patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by Japanese cedar: once before the pollen season and once during the season. A total of 25 patients was randomly categorized into a placebo-treated group and an active-treatment group. Their serum protein profiles were analyzed by 2-dimensional electrophoresis.


RESULTS
Sixteen proteins were found to be differentially expressed during the pollen season. Among the differentially expressed proteins, the serum levels of complement C4A, apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV), and transthyretin were significantly increased in SLIT-treated patients but not in placebo-treated patients. Among these proteins, the serum levels of apoA-IV correlated with the clinical symptom-medication scores (r = -0.635; P < .05) and with quality of life scores (r = -0.516; P < .05) in the case of SLIT-treated patients. The amount of histamine released from the basophils in vitro was greatly reduced after the addition of recombinant apoA-IV in the medium (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data will increase the understanding of the mechanism of SLIT and may provide novel insights into the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Makino
Yuka
Y
Department of Medical Genetics, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Noguchi
Emiko
E
Takahashi
Noboru
N
Matsumoto
Yuri
Y
Kubo
Seita
S
Yamada
Takechiyo
T
Imoto
Yoshimasa
Y
Ito
Yumi
Y
Osawa
Yoko
Y
Shibasaki
Masanao
M
Uchida
Kazuhiko
K
Meno
Kohji
K
Suzuki
Hideaki
H
Okubo
Kimihiro
K
Arinami
Tadao
T
Fujieda
Shigeharu
S
D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood*; D015934:Complement C4a / Q000378:metabolism*; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011788:Quality of Life; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012621:Seasons
D000485:Allergens; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D011228:Prealbumin; C022205:apolipoprotein A-IV; D015934:Complement C4a