title: Prevention of allergic conjunctivitis in mice by a rice-based edible vaccine containing modified Japanese cedar pollen allergens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether oral immunotherapy with transgenic rice seeds expressing hypoallergenic modified antigens suppresses cedar pollen-induced allergic conjunctivitis by eliciting immune tolerance in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice were fed once a day for 20 days with 220 mg of transgenic rice expressing modified Japanese cedar pollen allergens Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 or with non-transgenic rice seeds as a control. They were then sensitised with two intraperitoneal injections of Japanese cedar pollen in alum before challenge twice with pollen in eye drops. Twenty-four hours after the second challenge, the conjunctiva, spleen, and blood were isolated for histological analysis, cytokine production assays, and measurement of serum immunoglobulin E concentrations, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The numbers of eosinophils and total inflammatory cells in the conjunctiva were significantly lower in mice fed the transgenic rice than in those fed non-transgenic rice. The clinical score evaluated at 15 min after antigen challenge was also significantly lower in mice fed the transgenic rice than in those fed non-transgenic rice. The serum concentrations of both total and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E were also significantly lower in mice fed the transgenic rice. Oral vaccination with transgenic rice resulted in significant down-regulation of the allergen-induced production of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-12p70, interferon-γ, and IL-17A by splenocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral immunotherapy with transgenic rice expressing modified Japanese cedar pollen allergens suppressed pollen-induced experimental allergic conjunctivitis in mice by eliciting immune tolerance. This novel prophylactic approach is potentially safe and effective for allergen-specific oral immunotherapy in allergic conjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku City, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku City, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Waka
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku City, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.affiliation: Functional Transgenic Crop Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuhya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wakasa
authors.affiliation: Functional Transgenic Crop Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.affiliation: Functional Transgenic Crop Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Takaiwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku City, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukushima
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007167:Immunotherapy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012275:Oryza; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D022462:Vaccines, Edible / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C065290:Cry j I protein, Cryptomeria japonica; C065291:Cry j II protein, Cryptomeria japonica; D016207:Cytokines; D010940:Plant Proteins; D022462:Vaccines, Edible; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Conjunctiva; Immunology; Ocular surface; Treatment other