Epicutaneous Immunotherapy Compared with Sublingual Immunotherapy in Mice Sensitized to Pollen (Phleum pratense)

Lucie Mondoulet,Emilie Puteaux,Christophe Dupont,Vincent Dioszeghy,Mélanie Ligouis,Véronique Dhelft,Pierre-Henri Benhamou

doi:10.5402/2012/375735

Lucie Mondoulet, Emilie Puteaux + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/375735

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Abstract

Background. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) to sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in a model of mice sensitized to Phleum pratense pollen. Methods. BALB/c mice were sensitized by sub-cutaneous route to pollen protein extract mixed treated for 8 weeks, using sham, EPIT, or SLIT. Measurements involved the serological response and cytokine profile from reactivated splenocytes, plethysmography after aerosol challenge to pollen, cell, and cytokine contents in the bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs). Results. After immunotherapy, sIgE was significantly decreased in the treated groups compared to sham (P < 0.001), whereas sIgG2a increased with EPIT and SLIT (P < 0.001 and P < 0.005 versus sham). Reactivated splenocytes secreted higher levels of Th2 cytokines with sham (P < 0.01). Penh values were higher in sham than EPIT and SLIT. Eosinophil recruitment in BAL was significantly reduced only by EPIT (P < 0.01). Conclusion. In this model of mice sensitized to pollen, EPIT was at least as efficient as SLIT.

Highlights

Specific immunotherapy has been used for almost a century in allergic patients to redirect inappropriate immune responses
After a phase of sensitization validated by an increase in specific IgE, mice were randomly allocated to 3 groups of 10 animals and treated during 8 weeks: (1) EPIT, treated by epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT 100 μg), (2) SLIT, treated by sublingual immunotherapy
At the end of treatment (D63), specific IgE (sIgE) levels remained unchanged in the treated groups but further increased in the Sham group (P < 0.001 versus EPIT or SLIT). sIgG1 increased with EPIT and SLIT (P < 0.05 versus Sham). sIgG2a increased only at the end of the treatment with EPIT or SLIT

Summary

Introduction

Specific immunotherapy has been used for almost a century in allergic patients to redirect inappropriate immune responses. The long-term benefits of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) were demonstrated by Durham et al in patients with grass pollen sensitization [1]. A model of SLIT in mice sensitized to timothy grass allergen (Phleum pratense—Ph1p) has been reported [6]. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) to sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in a model of mice sensitized to Phleum pratense pollen. BALB/c mice were sensitized by subcutaneous route to pollen protein extract mixed treated for 8 weeks, using sham, EPIT, or SLIT. SIgE was significantly decreased in the treated groups compared to sham (P < 0.001), whereas sIgG2a increased with EPIT and SLIT (P < 0.001 and P < 0.005 versus sham). In this model of mice sensitized to pollen, EPIT was at least as efficient as SLIT

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