title: Oocyst-Derived Extract of Toxoplasma Gondii Serves as Potent Immunomodulator in a Mouse Model of Birch Pollen Allergy.
abstract: Previously, we have shown that oral infection with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts prevented type I allergy in mice. Here we investigated whether the application of a T. gondii oocyst lysate antigen (OLA) could also reduce allergy development. BALB/c mice were immunised twice with OLA followed by sensitisation with the major birch pollen (BP) allergen Bet v 1 and an aerosol challenge with BP extract.
  
  
  
  First, we tested OLA in vitro. Stimulation of splenocytes and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) with OLA led to the production of pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines such as IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-10. Moreover, BMDC exposed to OLA upregulated the maturation markers CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHCII. Furthermore, OLA was recognised by TLR2-transfected human embryonic kidney cells.
  
  
  
  Immunisation of mice with OLA induced high levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies in sera along with increased production of IFN-γ and IL-10 in Toxoplasma-antigen restimulated splenocytes. OLA reduced allergic airway inflammation as manifested by significant reduction of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar fluids, decreased cellular infiltrates and mucus production in the lungs. Accordingly, Bet v 1-specific IgE was decreased in OLA-pretreated mice. The reduced allergic immune responses were accompanied by increased numbers of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ regulatory T cells in spleens as well as by increased numbers of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in lungs when compared to sensitised controls suggesting that these two cell populations might be involved in the suppression of the allergic immune responses.
  
  
  
  Our data demonstrate that pretreatment with the oocyst extract can exert anti-allergic effects comparable to T. gondii infection. Thus, the immunomodulatory properties of the parasite extract indicate that this extract and in the future defined molecules thereof might serve as immunomodulatory adjuvants in allergy treatment and prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schabussova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drinic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Johnnie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akgün
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loupal
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joachim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology & Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wiedermann
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology*; D029662:Betula / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D033661:Oocysts / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma