Induction of tolerance after establishment of peanut allergy by the food allergy herbal formula-2 is associated with up-regulation of interferon-gamma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Peanut (PN)-anaphylaxis is potentially life threatening. We previously reported that a Chinese herbal medicine preparation, food allergy herbal formula-2 (FAHF-2), prevented peanut allergy (PNA) in mice when administered during sensitization.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate whether FAHF-2 also can prevent anaphylactic reactions when administered to mice with established PNA and, if so, whether protection would persist after cessation of therapy.

METHODS:

C3H/HeJ mice sensitized and boosted over 8 weeks with a standard protocol known to establish PN hypersensitivity received seven weeks of FAHF-2 treatment or water as a sham treatment. Mice were subsequently challenged with PN at week 14 (1-day post-therapy) and week 18 (4-week post-therapy) to evaluate the efficacy and persistence of FAHF-2 treatment by assessing anaphylactic scores, core body temperatures and plasma histamine levels. Serum PN-specific antibody levels and cytokine profiles from splenocytes and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells were also determined.

RESULTS:

All sham-treated mice challenged at weeks 14 and 18 showed anaphylactic symptoms. In contrast, FAHF-2-treated mice showed no sign of anaphylactic reactions. PN-specific IgE levels in FAHF-2-treated mice also were reduced whereas IgG2a levels were increased. Furthermore, MLN cells from FAHF-2-treated mice produced markedly less IL-4 and IL-5, but more IFN-gamma, and contained increased numbers of IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ cells as compared with sham-treated mice.

CONCLUSION:

FAHF-2 treatment established PN tolerance in this model, which persisted for at least 4-week post-treatment. This result was associated with modulation of intestinal T helper type 1 cell (Th1) and Th2 cytokine production, and with increased numbers of mesenteric IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ cells.

• Authors: C Qu, K Srivastava, J Ko, T F Zhang, H A Sampson, X-M Li
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy) Vol. 37 Issue 6 Pg. 846-55 (Jun 2007) ISSN: 0954-7894 [Print] England
• PMID: 17517098 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2
• Interleukin-5
• Plant Extracts
• Interleukin-4
• Histamine
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Anaphylaxis (blood, immunology, prevention & control)
• Animals
• Antibodies (blood, immunology)
• Arachis (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology, metabolism)
• Female
• Histamine (blood, immunology)
• Humans
• Immune Tolerance (drug effects)
• Immunity, Mucosal (drug effects)
• Interferon-gamma (blood, immunology)
• Interleukin-4 (blood, immunology)
• Interleukin-5 (blood, immunology)
• Intestinal Mucosa (metabolism)
• Intestines (immunology)
• Mesentery (immunology, metabolism)
• Mice
• Peanut Hypersensitivity (blood, immunology, prevention & control)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Spleen (immunology, metabolism)
• Th1 Cells (immunology, metabolism)
• Th2 Cells (immunology, metabolism)