title: An adjuvant free mouse model of oral allergenic sensitization to rice seeds protein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rice is commonly known as a staple crop consumed worldwide, though with several rice proteins being reported for allergic properties in clinical studies. Thus, there is a growing need for the development of an animal model to better understand the allergenicity of rice proteins and the immunological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of food allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Groups of BALB/c mice were sensitized daily with freshly homogenized rice flour (30 mg or 80 mg) without adjuvant by intragastric gavage. In addition, the mice were challenged with extracted rice flour proteins at several time points intragastrically. Hypersensitivity symptoms in mice were evaluated according to a scoring system. Vascular leakage, ELISA of rice protein-specific IgE, histopathology of small intestine, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis were conducted on challenged mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An adjuvant free mouse model of rice allergy was established with sensitized mice showing increased scratching behaviors and increased vascular permeability. Rice protein-specific IgE was detected after eighteen days of sensitization and from the fifth challenge onwards. Inflammatory damage to the epithelium in the small intestine of mice was observed beyond one month of sensitization. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis results confirmed the positive rice allergy in the mouse model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We introduced a BALB/c mouse model of rice allergy with simple oral sensitization without the use of adjuvant. This model would serve as a useful tool for further analysis on the immunopathogenic mechanisms of the various rice allergens, for the evaluation of the hypersensitivity of rice or other cereal grains, and to serve as a platform for the development of immunotherapies against rice allergens.
authors: Biology Program, School of Science Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Xiao-Wei
authors: XW
authors: Chen
authors: Ken Wan-Keung
authors: KW
authors: Lau
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Yang
authors: Samuel Sai-Ming
authors: SS
authors: Sun
authors: Ming-Chiu
authors: MC
authors: Fung
references: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Jan;111(1):193-5
references: 12532119
references: Allergy. 2003 May;58(5):456-7
references: 12752341
references: J Clin Invest. 1993 Jan;91(1):133-40
references: 8423213
references: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2010;152(3):219-25
references: 20145410
references: Clin Exp Allergy. 2009 Aug;39(8):1255-66
references: 19438583
references: Arch Dis Child. 2009 Mar;94(3):220-3
references: 18957470
references: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2007;143(1):69-74
references: 17192718
references: Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2009 Aug;54(3 Suppl):S46-51
references: 19186207
references: Arerugi. 1999 Jan;48(1):40-9
references: 10331306
references: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Jun;121(6):1301-8; quiz 1309-10
references: 18539189
references: Clin Exp Allergy. 2003 Nov;33(11):1586-94
references: 14616873
references: Nutr Rev. 2003 Jun;61(6 Pt 2):S114-6
references: 12908742
references: Methods. 2007 Jan;41(1):91-8
references: 17161305
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Jun;111(8):1125-30
references: 12826485
references: Immunobiology. 2007;212(2):141-7
references: 17336834
references: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1999 Feb-Apr;118(2-4):298-9
references: 10224418
references: Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Dec;2(6):541-6
references: 14752339
references: Immunology. 2004 Nov;113(3):293-303
references: 15500615
references: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2008;147(4):305-14
references: 18617750
references: Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh). 1992;176:103-7
references: 1476019
references: Allergy. 1994 Feb;49(2):92-5
references: 7513507
references: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 May;117(5):1125-32
references: 16675342
references: J Biol Chem. 2001 Apr 6;276(14):11376-81
references: 11139585
references: Planta. 1990 Apr;181(1):1-9
references: 24196668
references: Lab Anim (NY). 2005 Oct;34(9):39-43
references: 16195737
references: Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2007;144(3):203-10
references: 17570928
references: Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2008 Aug;60(4-5):337-45
references: 18524557
references: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1979 Oct;64(4):259-65
references: 479477
references: Allergy. 1998;53(46 Suppl):55-7
references: 9826000
references: Allergy. 2002 Mar;57(3):263-4
references: 11906347
references: Int Immunol. 2008 Aug;20(8):1077-86
references: 18562336
references: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999 Feb;103(2 Pt 1):206-14
references: 9949309
references: Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Aug;9(4):371-7
references: 19474706
references: Clin Exp Allergy. 2009 Apr;39(4):458-68
references: 19178540
references: Contact Dermatitis. 1992 Sep;27(3):196
references: 1451475
references: Intern Med. 1998 Jan;37(1):98-101
references: 9510411
references: BMC Gastroenterol. 2009 May 18;9:33
references: 19450258