Abstract
Such allergic diseases as rhinitis and asthma are IgE-mediated type I reactions and are controlled primarily by Th2 cells. One of the major dust mites, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), is considered to cause allergic reactions. Oral tolerance, largely used to modulate immune response, opens the possibility of modulating Th2 allergic responses. We observed downmodulation of total and specific IgE antibody levels as well as the number of specific IgE-secreting cells with Dp feeding in previously sensitized mice. Analysis of the cytokine profile in mucosal lymphoid tissues in the protocol revealed altered patterns of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-5 (IL-5), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) secretion in Dp-fed animals. The results suggest that both the Th and B cell populations are modulated in mice made tolerant by oral Dp feeding. Understanding the mechanisms at the mucosal level that underlie oral tolerance can improve its use in allergy immunotherapy.
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