Abstract
The efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy, at present one of the treatments of choice for respiratory allergy, relies on the tolerance induced by oral mucosa-associated immune system; however, the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT: Peyer's patches and isolated lymphoid follicles) and mesenteric lymph nodes could also be involved, being stimulated by the ingested part of the allergen extract. The aim of the present study is to assess whether the exposure of the allergen exclusively to the GALT induces a tolerogenic response. To this purpose, mice were sensitized with ovalbumin or Par j 1 allergens. The corresponding gastric-resistant monomeric allergoids were then administered via orogastric gavage. After treatment, all mice were tested for: serum IgE, in vitro Th1 and Th2 cytokine release by allergen-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25+IL-10+ T cells in Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen. Compared to the control, sensitized groups showed higher levels of serum IgE, lower frequency of CD4+CD25+IL-10+ T cells, at all sites, and higher amounts of in vitro-released IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-α. Compared to the sensitized groups, higher frequency of CD4+CD25+IL-10+ T cells was observed in the spleen of both Par-j 1 and OVA sensitized/treated groups and, only for ovalbumin-treated mice, in the Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, IgE and in vitro cytokines were significantly lower and equivalent to the control group. The results give the first evidence that the intragastric-restricted administration of gastric-resistant allergens restores local and peripheral tolerance in allergen-sensitized mice.