Induction of shrimp tropomyosin-specific hypersensitivity in mice
Journal
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology
Journal Volume
147
Journal Issue
4
Pages
305-314
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Shellfish hypersensitivity is amongst the most common food allergies. The major shellfish allergen was identified as tropomyosin. Here, we investigated the immediate hypersensitivity responses, IgE and cell-mediated immune response in mice sensitized with recombinant shrimp tropomyosin. Methods: Shrimp tropomyosin was cloned and expressed as a His-tagged fusion recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. Three- to 4-week-old BALB/c mice were sensitized by intragastric administration of recombinant tropomyosin (0.1 mg) plus cholera toxin (10 μg) on days 0, 12, 19 and 26 and challenged on day 33. Mice fed with phosphate-buffered saline plus cholera toxin were included as controls. Animals were monitored for immediate hypersensitive responses and tropomyosin-specific IgE over time. In addition, shrimp tropomyosin-specific CD4+ T cells, interleukin-4 and interferon-γ levels were determined from in vitro splenocyte cultures. A passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay was also conducted. Results: Mice fed with shrimp tropomyosin developed swelling of the snout, increased scratching behavior and shrimp tropomyosin-specific IgE. Sera from tropomyosin-sensitized mice elicited vascular leakage in na?ve mice in the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay. Shrimp tropomyosin-specific CD4+ T cell proliferations and elevated interleukin-4 over interferon-γ levels were evident in splenocyte cultures of tropomyosin-fed mice upon tropomyosin stimulation. In contrast, shrimp tropomyosin-specific IgE, CD4+ T cells and hypersensitive responses were absent in the control mice. Conclusion: We have generated a BALB/c model of shrimp allergy. This model provides a useful tool for evaluating the immunopathogenic mechanisms involved in shellfish hypersensitivity. Copyright ? 2008 S. Karger AG.
SDGs
Other Subjects
cholera toxin; gamma interferon; granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor; immunoglobulin E; interleukin 13; interleukin 17; interleukin 3; interleukin 4; interleukin 5; interleukin 6; monocyte chemotactic protein 1; phosphate buffered saline; recombinant allergen; tropomyosin; allergy test; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; CD4+ T lymphocyte; cell culture; cellular immunity; controlled study; Escherichia coli; eye swelling; female; food allergy; humoral immunity; immediate type hypersensitivity; lymphocyte proliferation; mouse; nonhuman; priority journal; protein expression; scratching; shrimp; skin anaphylaxis; spleen cell; Anaphylaxis; Animals; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Decapoda (Crustacea); Female; Food Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-4; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; Proteins; Tropomyosin
Type
journal article