Yonsei Med J.  2001 Feb;42(1):91-105. 10.3349/ymj.2001.42.1.91.

Ovalbumin fused with diphtheria toxin protects mice from ovalbumin induced anaphylactic shock

• Lee BK
• Yoo YG
• Lee WY
• Hong CS
• Park JK
• Ro JY

• KMID: 720592
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2001.42.1.91

Abstract

For those with allergy, vaccination with a specific allergen has often been used as a major therapeutic measure. However, the universal application of this technique in clinics have been restricted due to its low success rates and the risk of active systemic anaphylactic shock (ASAS). In this regard, we constructed a fusion protein (OVA-DT), ovalbumin (OVA) fused with diphtheria toxin protein (DT), which may exert a specific cytotoxicity to cells bearing OVA-specific IgE. Its therapeutic effect was evaluated in mice (BALB/c) sensitized with OVA (Os-mice). OVA challenges to the OVA-sensitized mice (Os-mice) caused ASAS to death within 30 min, but OVA-DT treatment afforded mice complete protection. When OVA-DT was treated to the Os-mice, none showed the signs of ASAS when re-challenged 48 h after the treatment. OVA-DT itself was not found to be toxic or allergenic in normal mice. The effect of OVA-DT on the biological functions of mast cells was also studied. Binding of OVA-DT to OVA-specific IgE bearing mast cells and the inhibition of histamine release from these cells were observed. In addition, OVA-DT treatment inhibited the proliferation of OVA-specific B cells in mice. In Os-mice treated with OVA-DT, levels of anti-OVA IgG2a in serum and the production of IFN-gamma by splenic lymphocytes were found to increase, but the production of IL-4 by these cells decreased. Re-direction of cytokine profiles from OVA-specific Th2 to OVA-specific Thl is suggested. These results indicate that OVA-DT can protect Os-mice from ASAS due to OVA challenge, because it inactivates OVA-specific IgE-expressing cells, including mast cells and B cells.

Keyword

Immunotherapy; fusion protein; spleen index; IL-4; IFN-gamma; histamine; IgE

MeSH Terms

Anaphylaxis/prevention | control*
Animal
B-Lymphocytes/immunology
Female
Histamine Release/drug effects
IgE/metabolism
Interferon Type II/biosynthesis
Interleukin-4/biosynthesis
Lymphocyte Transformation/drug effects
Mast Cells/metabolism
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Ovalbumin/immunology*
Recombinant Fusion Proteins/therapeutic use*