Specific Immunotherapy in a Murine Model of Grass Pollen (Phl p5b)-Induced Airway Inflammation.

The use of ovalbumin as a model allergen in murine models of allergic asthma is controversially discussed since it is not an aeroallergen and sensitization can only be achieved by using strong Th2-inducing adjuvants. Therefore, in this study, a murine model of asthma has been established in which sensitization against the major grass pollen allergen Phl p5b was performed without using aluminum hydroxide (alum). We used this model for specific immunotherapy.

Proteolytic activity in cowshed dust extracts induces C5a release in murine bronchoalveolar lavage fluids which may account for its protective properties in allergic airway inflammation.

Objective: Intranasal application of cowshed dust extract (CDE) during sensitisation in a murine model of experimental asthma leads to a significant alleviation of the clinical parameters of the allergic immune response. However, neither the immunological mechanisms underlying this protective effect nor all of the protective substances included in CDE have yet been described. Recently, complement factor 5a (C5a) receptor signalling has been identified to play a regulatory role in allergic airway disease.

Conference Scene: Summary report from EAACI: London 2010.

Immunotherapy is, to date, the only effective curative method for the treatment of allergic disorders. Great efforts have been made to improve the efficacy, safety and patient compliance with this method. The growing understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying immunotherapy has led to new approaches for immunotherapy involving the routes of administration and the kinds of molecules used.

T-cell polarization depends on concentration of the danger signal used to activate dendritic cells.

Although several studies have focused on allergic sensitization by dendritic cells, to date it is still open under which conditions these antigen-presenting cells are able to induce an allergic immune response. Our study reveals that BMDCs pulsed with LPS-free ovalbumine did not induce allergic disease. However, when BMDCs were activated with low-dose LPS during pulsing with allergen, these cells expressed an inflammatory set of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules like CD86 and OX40L.