Allergenic responses of green gram (Vigna radiata L. Millsp) proteins can be vitiated by induction of oral tolerance due to single acute dose in BALB/c mice

Abstract

Consumption of green gram (Vigna radiata L. Millsp), a legume (family: fabaceae) induces allergic symptoms in the susceptible individuals. In the present study, an attempt has been made to induce oral tolerance in BALB/c mice as a therapeutic tool for the prevention of green gram allergy. At first set of experiments, BALB/c mice were gavaged with green gram proteins to explore their allergenicity potential. At second set of experiments, BALB/c mice were given a single acute dose ranging from 0.02mg to 50mg to induce oral tolerance. At first set of experiments, BALB/c showed enhanced levels of total and specific IgE, Th2 cytokines in the splenocytes and β-hexosaminidase, histamine, prostaglandin D2 and cysteinyl leukotriene release from RBL-2H3 cells when compared to their respective controls. At second set of experiments, the levels of total and specific IgE/IgG1 in the sera, anaphylaxis symptoms, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), CD4+ and CD8+ cells were found decreased while increased levels of Foxp3 and IL-10 were observed at the single acute dose of 20mg green gram when compared to other groups. Taken together the allergenicity of green gram can be minimized due to induction of oral tolerance at a single acute dose of 20mg in BALB/c mice.