title: Sublingual immunotherapy for experimental allergic conjunctivitis in a murine model induced by Dermatophagoides farinae allergen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a clinically effective treatment in allergic conjunctivitis (AC); however, the mechanism of the underlying pharmacodynamics remains unclear. Here, we investigate the efficacy and the mechanism of a sublingually administered Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) vaccine in a murine AC model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A murine model of AC caused by Der f extract was developed in BALB/c mice by repeated application of allergen. Sensitized mice were SLIT treated by Der f drops and subsequently analyzed for AC symptoms, histopathological and immunological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, Der f extract successfully induced the symptoms of AC in BALB/c mice. In these sensitized mice, clinical symptoms (scratching behavior, lacrimation, conjunctival hyperemia and edema), immunological and histopathological findings (inflammatory cell infiltration) were very similar to those in human AC. SLIT treatment of sensitized mice markedly reduced the clinical and histopathological symptoms and decreased the expression levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), Der f-specific IgE and T helper cell 2 (Th2) cytokine interleukin-4, with a significant increase in Der f-specific IgG4 and Th1 cytokine interferon-γ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SLIT with Der f drops is a potentially effective means of immunotherapy for Der f-induced AC by modulating the Th2-biased allergic immune response.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research and Development, Wolwo Bio-Pharmaceutical Inc., Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Li-lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dan-dan
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Qiao-xia
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Jing-ya
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1