Background: Purified allergens with reduced IgE reactivity are required to improve the safety and efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT).
Objective: The present study investigates the efficacy of purified cockroach allergen immunotherapy with proteolytically active and inactive Per a 10 in allergic mouse model.
Methods: Balb/c mice were sensitized intraperitoneally with cockroach extract (CE) and purified allergen Per a 10 in separate groups. Mice were treated subcutaneously with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), CE, active and inactive Per a 10 and challenged intranasally. Antigen specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in serum and cytokines IL-4, IL-13, IFN-gamma, IL-10, TGF-beta in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and spleen culture supernatant (CS) were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lung histology was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.
Results: IT with Per a 10 demonstrated significant reduction in IgE levels in serum, IL-4 levels in BAL fluid, CS, and eosinophilic infiltration in lungs than PBS-treated mice. This was associated with significantly increased IL-10 secretion in BAL fluid and CS. IT with Per a 10 effectively suppressed T-helper type 2 (Th2) response in mice sensitized with Per a 10 than CE group. Further, IT with inactive Per a 10 showed maximum reduction in systemic and airway inflammation and induced maximum IL-10 release in BAL fluid and CS than other antigens.
Conclusions: IT with Per a 10 effectively suppressed Th2 response and lung inflammation in Per a 10- or CE-sensitized mice. The beneficial effects of IT with inactive Per a 10 are more pronounced than active Per a 10.