Prophylactic and Therapeutic Potential of Asp f1 Epitopes in Naive and Sensitized BALB/c Mice.
- Author:
Neelkamal CHAUDHARY
1
;
Lakshna MAHAJAN
;
Taruna MADAN
;
Anil KUMAR
;
Gajendra Pratap Singh RAGHAVA
;
Seturam Bandacharya KATTI
;
Wahajul HAQ
;
Puranam Usha SARMA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; Asp f1 peptides; cytokines; eosinophil; T helper cell
- MeSH: Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Antibodies; Aspergillosis; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary; Aspergillus fumigatus; Cytokines; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Eosinophil Peroxidase; Eosinophils; Epitopes; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin G; Immunotherapy; Interleukin-5; Lung; Mice; Peptides; Pneumonia; Suspensions; Viperidae
- From:Immune Network 2009;9(5):179-191
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: The present study examines a hypothesis that short allergen-derived peptides may shift an Aspergillus fumigatus (Afu-) specific TH2 response towards a protective TH1. Five overlapping peptides (P1-P5) derived from Asp f1, a major allergen/antigen of Afu, were evaluated for prophylactic or therapeutic efficacy in BALB/c mice. METHODS: To evaluate the prophylactic efficacy, peptides were intranasally administered to naive mice and challenged with Afu-allergens/antigens. For evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, the mice were sensitized with Afu-allergens/antigens followed by intranasal administration of peptides. The groups were compared for the levels of Afu-specific antibodies in sera and splenic cytokines evaluated by ELISA. Eosinophil peroxidase activity was examined in the lung cell suspensions and lung inflammation was assessed by histopathogy. RESULTS: Peptides P1-, P2- and P3 decreased Afu-specific IgE (84.5~98.9%) and IgG antibodies (45.7~71.6%) in comparison with Afu-sensitized mice prophylactically. P1- and P2-treated ABPA mice showed decline in Afu-specific IgE (76.4~88%) and IgG antibodies (15~54%). Increased IgG2a/IgG1 and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratios were observed. P1-P3 prophylactically and P1 therapeutically decreased IL-5 levels and eosinophil peroxidase activity. P1 decreased inflammatory cells' infiltration in lung tissue comparable to non-challenged control. CONCLUSION: Asp f1-derived peptide P1, prophylactically and therapeutically administered to Balb/c mice, is effective in regulating allergic response to allergens/antigens of Afu, and may be explored for immunotherapy of allergic aspergillosis in humans.
