Epicutaneous immunotherapy using a new epicutaneous delivery system in mice sensitized to peanuts.
BACKGROUND
Peanut allergy is a life-threatening condition for which new efficient and safe treatment is expected. We evaluated epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) as a new alternative treatment for peanut allergy in sensitized mice.


METHODS
Sixty BALB/c mice were sensitized by gavages with peanut protein extract (PPE) mixed with cholera toxin. An epicutaneous delivery system, coated with 100 μg PPE (Viaskin®, DBV Technologies, Paris, France), was applied to intact skin every week during 48 h (EPIT; n = 20). This group was compared with sensitized mice treated with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT; n = 20), untreated sensitized mice (sham, n = 20), and naive mice (naive; n = 20). After the 8-week treatment, a histamine release test, airway hyperreactivity measurement by plethysmography, and a resistance-compliance measurement after the challenge were performed. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage were sampled for serology, cytokines, and cytology.


RESULTS
Specific IgE (sIgE) increased after sensitization in the EPIT (0.26 μg/ml) and SCIT (0.21 μg/ml) groups and decreased after treatment (0.09 μg/ml, p < 0.001 and 0.06 μg/ml, p < 0.001, respectively). The IgG1/IgG2a ratio decreased in the EPIT and SCIT groups versus the sham group (3.7; p < 0.001 and 2.7; p < 0.01 and 15.1, respectively). At the higher metacholine concentration, enhanced pause values were lower in the EPIT and SCIT groups than in the sham group (7.29, 6.74, and 10.99, p < 0.01, respectively), and did not differ from that of the naive group (5.06). Resistance-compliance was reversed in the treated groups versus the sham group (p < 0.001). IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, eotaxin, and eosinophils were reduced in the BAL of the EPIT and SCIT groups versus the sham group (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In peanut-sensitized mice, based on biological and physiological responses, EPIT is as efficient as subcutaneous treatment which is the reference method in immunotherapy.
DBV Technologies, Pépinière Paris Santé Cochin, Paris, France. lucie.mondoulet@dbv-technologies.com
Lucie
L
Mondoulet
Vincent
V
Dioszeghy
Jeroen A J
JA
Vanoirbeek
Benoit
B
Nemery
Christophe
C
Dupont
Pierre-Henri
PH
Benhamou
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D010936:Plant Extracts