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Immunoprophylaxis of allergen–induced immunoglobulin E synthesis and airway hyperresponsiveness in vivo by genetic immunization

Nature Medicine volume 2, pages 540–544 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

The efficacy of an “allergen–gene immunization protocol” in altering allergic response was examined. Intramuscular injection of rats with a plasmid DNA encoding a house dust mite allergen into the muscle results in its long–term expression and the induction of specific immune responses. Significantly, this approach prevents the induction of immunoglobulin E synthesis, histamine release in bronchoalveolar fluids, and airway hyperresponsiveness in rats challenged with aerosolized allergen. Furthermore, this suppression is persistent and can be transferred into naive rats by CD8+ T cells from gene–immunized rats. These findings suggest that allergen–gene immunization is effective in modulating allergic responses, and may provide a novel therapeutic approach for allergic diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Microbiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Jen Ai Road, 1st Section, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Ching-Hsiang Hsu, Kaw-Yan Chua & Kue-Hsiung Hsieh

  2. Graduate Institute of Immunology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Jen Ai Road, 1st Section, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Ching-Hsiang Hsu, Kaw-Yan Chua & Kue-Hsiung Hsieh

  3. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Mi-Hua Tao

  4. Graduate Institute of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Jen Ai Road, 1st Section, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yih-Loong Lai & Heuy-Dong Wu

  5. Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, USA

    Shau-Ku Huang

  6. Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Kue-Hsiung Hsieh

  7. Chang Gung Children's Hospital, 5, Fu-Hsing Street, Kweishan Hsiang, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Kue-Hsiung Hsieh

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  1. Ching-Hsiang Hsu
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Hsu, CH., Chua, KY., Tao, MH. et al. Immunoprophylaxis of allergen–induced immunoglobulin E synthesis and airway hyperresponsiveness in vivo by genetic immunization. Nat Med 2, 540–544 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0596-540

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