title: Apolipoprotein A-IV is a candidate target molecule for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Seita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Takechiyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imoto
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Masanao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibasaki
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meno
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kimihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arinami
authors.forename: Shigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujieda
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D011228:Prealbumin; C022205:apolipoprotein A-IV; D015934:Complement C4a