title: Prevention and treatment of DNA vaccine encoding cockroach allergen Bla g 1 in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One-fourth of the US population is sensitized to the German cockroach. Primary German cockroach allergen Bla g 1 is detected in 63% of homes and 52% of childcare facilities in the United States. No effective treatment or vaccination strategies are yet available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of a plasmid DNA-mediated vaccination using the Bla g 1 gene in a mouse model of allergic inflammatory airway disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A plasmid DNA vector coding for the Bla g 1 allergen controlled by cytomegalovirus promoter was constructed. To estimate the protective efficacy, BALB/c mice were given three injections of plasmid DNA-Bla g 1 prior to sensitization with two priming doses of recombinant Bla g 1 (rBla g 1) antigens, followed by nebulized rBla g 1 challenge. In the therapeutic approach, sensitization was followed by administering Bla g 1 DNA vaccine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bla g 1 vaccination significantly reduced allergen-induced airway inflammation, even after mice were presensitized and a Th2-dominant response was established. The Bla g 1 vaccination significantly reduced total inflammatory cell infiltrate, eosinophilia, secretion of Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, allergen-induced inflammatory infiltrates in the lungs, and Bla g 1-specific IgE in serum upon challenge with rBla g 1. Importantly, Bla g 1 DNA vaccination was able to induce IL-10-secreting regulatory T cells that could suppress the allergen-specific Th2 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DNA vaccination showed protective and therapeutic efficacy against a clinically relevant allergen Bla g 1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ensell
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glickstein
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kermany
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Y-P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakigi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanangat
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D016207:Cytokines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C105482:allergen Bla g 1; D007073:Immunoglobulin E