title: Immunotherapy with a recombinant hybrid molecule alleviates allergic responses more efficiently than an allergenic cocktail or pollen extract in a model of chenopodium album allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to assess the therapeutic potential of a recombinant hybrid molecule (rHM) alongside an allergenic cocktail from recombinant wild-type allergens as well as pollen extract on Chenopodium album allergy, using a BALB/c mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The BALB/c mice had already been sensitized to C. album via intraperitoneal injections of alum-adsorbed allergenic cocktail and immunotherapy procedure was followed by subcutaneous injections of the rHM, allergenic cocktail and pollen extract at weekly intervals. Humoral immune responses were determined via measurement of specific antibodies in serum. Splenocytes of immunized mice were stimulated in vitro and then proliferation responses, cytokine secretion and mRNA expression of genes involved in immunotherapy were examined by ELISA and real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitized mice were identified with high specific IgE against allergenic cocktail when compared with healthy mice. Immunotherapy with the rHM induced the highest ratio of the IgG2a/IgG1 levels compared to allergenic cocktail or C. album pollen extract. The rHM was able to induce proliferative responses as well as the allergenic cocktail in cultured splenocytes. Immunotherapy with the rHM significantly improved secretion of IFN-γ and IL-10, while secretion of IL-13 rapidly diminished. Interestingly, mRNA expression of GATA3 was strongly decreased in rHM-treated mice whereas mRNA expression of T-bet and Foxp3 was significantly increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results prove that immunotherapy with the rHM effectively controlled allergic responses by shifting from a Th2-like immune response to a Th1-dominated immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sankian
authors.forename: Danial
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Afsharzadeh
authors.forename: Abdolreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varasteh
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D027463:Chenopodium album / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E