A rice-based edible vaccine expressing multiple T cell epitopes induces oral tolerance for inhibition of Th2-mediated IgE responses

摘要: Peptide immunotherapy using multiple predominant allergen-specific T cell epitopes is a safe and promising strategy for the control of type I allergy. In this study, we developed transgenic rice plants expressing mouse dominant epitope peptides Cry j II allergens Japanese cedar pollen as fusion protein with soybean seed storage glycinin. Under glutelin GluB-1 promoter, was specifically expressed accumulated in seeds at level 0.5% total protein. Oral feeding to mice before systemic challenge inhibited development serum IgE IgG antibody CD4+ proliferative responses. The levels cell-derived allergy-associated helper 2 cytokine production IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 histamine release were significantly decreased. Moreover, pollen-induced clinical symptoms our experimental sneezing model. These results indicate potential mucosal delivery induction oral tolerance allergens.