title: Efficacy and immunological actions of FAHF-2 in a murine model of multiple food allergies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 (FAHF-2) prevents anaphylaxis in a murine model of peanut allergy. Multiple food allergies (MFA) are common and associated with a higher risk of anaphylaxis. No well-characterized murine model of sensitization to multiple food allergens exists, and no satisfactory therapy for MFA is currently available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of FAHF-2 in a murine model of MFA.
  
  
  METHODS
  C3H/HeJ mice were orally sensitized to peanut, codfish, and egg concurrently. Oral FAHF-2 treatment commenced 1 day after completing sensitization and continued daily for 7 weeks. Mice were subsequently orally challenged with each allergen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibodies in sera from mice simultaneously sensitized with peanut, codfish, and egg recognized major allergens of all 3 foods, demonstrating sensitization to multiple unrelated food allergens (MFA mice). Sham-treated MFA mice exhibited anaphylactic symptoms accompanied by elevation of plasma histamine and hypothermia. In contrast, FAHF-2-treated MFA mice showed no anaphylactic symptoms, normal body temperature, and histamine levels after challenge with each allergen. Protection was accompanied by reduction in allergen-specific immunoglobulin E levels. Allergen-stimulated Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 production levels decreased, whereas the Th1 cytokine interferon-γ levels were elevated in cultured splenocytes and mesenteric lymph node cells in FAHF-2-treated mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We established the first murine model of MFA. FAHF-2 prevents peanut, egg, and fish-induced anaphylactic reactions in this model, suggesting that FAHF-2 may have potential for treating human MFA.
authors.affiliation: Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine,One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA.
authors.forename: Kamal D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Ludmilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bardina
authors.forename: Hugh A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: Xiu-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D010367:Arachis / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D021181:Egg Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000276:immunology*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D021183:Peanut Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; C497376:Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2; D010936:Plant Extracts