1. Immunological and Symptomatic Effects of Oral Intake of Transgenic Rice Containing 7 Linked Major T-Cell Epitopes from Japanese Cedar Pollen Allergens.
- Author
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Endo T, Asaka D, Nakayama T, Saito S, Kodama H, Mitsuyoshi R, Takaishi S, Sugimoto N, Omae S, Takagi H, Wakasa Y, Ozawa K, Takano M, Takaiwa F, Kojima H, and Saito S
- Subjects
- Administration, Oral, Cytokines metabolism, Humans, Immunoglobulin E blood, Immunoglobulin E immunology, Immunoglobulin G immunology, Lymphocyte Activation immunology, Plants, Genetically Modified, Quality of Life, Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal diagnosis, Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal immunology, T-Lymphocytes immunology, T-Lymphocytes metabolism, Vaccines administration & dosage, Vaccines immunology, Vaccines, Subunit administration & dosage, Vaccines, Subunit immunology, Allergens immunology, Antigens, Plant immunology, Cryptomeria immunology, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte immunology, Oryza immunology, Pollen immunology, Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal prevention & control
- Abstract
Background: A rice-based peptide vaccine containing 7 linked human predominant T-cell epitopes (7Crp) derived from Japanese cedar (JC) pollen allergens, Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, was developed. Here, we examined the efficacy and safety of this transgenic rice in JC pollinosis patients., Methods: Transgenic rice (5, 20, and 80 g) was administered orally. We measured the T-cell proliferative activity against 7Crp, Cry j 1, and Cry j 2; the cytokine expression levels; and specific IgE and IgG4 production levels. In addition, the symptom and medication scores were monitored during the pollen season, and quality of life (QOL) was evaluated., Results: T-cell proliferative activities to Cry j 1, Cry j 2, and 7Crp were significantly depressed in a dose-dependent manner. Oral intake of 80 g transgenic rice for 20 weeks resulted in significant suppression of allergen-specific T-cell proliferation with downregulation of IL-13 and upregulation of IL-10 levels but no changes to specific IgE and IgG4 levels. The QOL symptom scores for allergic rhinitis were not significantly improved., Conclusions: Allergen-specific T-cell responses were significantly reduced by oral intake of transgenic rice in a dose-dependent manner. However, neither medication score nor QOL symptom scores could be improved during the JC pollen season with oral intake of transgenic rice for 20 weeks., (© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.)
- Published
- 2021
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