ovalbumin and Skin-Diseases

Food allergy is an antigen-specific immunological adverse reaction after exposure to a given food. Multiple clinical studies showed that oral immunotherapy (OIT) is effective for the prevention and treatment for food allergy that is developed in infants and children. However, the effectiveness of OIT for epicutaneously sensitized food allergy remains unclear. Previously, we established a mouse model of epicutaneous-sensitized food allergy. In this model, systemic allergic reaction including intestinal and skin symptoms, such as anaphylaxis, was observed. We treated this model with OIT in two ways (OIT before sensitization or OIT during the sensitization phase) and evaluated the preventive effect of both methods. OIT before sensitization significantly ameliorated mast cell degranulation in sensitized skin, but there was no decrease in rectal temperatures or in mast cell degranulation in the jejunum. However, OIT administered during the sensitization phase significantly ameliorated the decrease in rectal temperature and mast cell degranulation in the skin and jejunum. OIT before sensitization increased the regulatory T cells in mesenteric lymph node (MLN), but not in the spleen, and it reduced antigen-specific IgG, but not IgE, production compared with the non-OIT control. However, OIT during sensitization caused a greater increase in regulatory T cells in both the MLN and spleen and reduced antigen-specific IgE and IgG generation compared with the non-OIT control group. Thus, OIT during the sensitization phase was effective for the prevention of epicutaneous-sensitized food allergy.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Administration, Oral; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Antigens; Body Temperature; Cell Degranulation; Chymases; Desensitization, Immunologic; Disease Models, Animal; Food Hypersensitivity; Immune Tolerance; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin G; Jejunum; Lymph Nodes; Mast Cells; Mesentery; Mice; Ovalbumin; Skin; Skin Diseases; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

We have developed K14-mOVA transgenic (Tg) mice that express membrane-associated ovalbumin (mOVA) under the control of a K14 promoter, as well as double Tg mice, by crossing them with OT-I mice that have a TCR recognizing the OVA peptide. When injected with CD8(+) OT-I cells, K14-mOVA Tg mice develop graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), whereas double Tg mice are protected. This suggests that, in double Tg mice, regulatory mechanisms may prevent infused OT-I cells from inducing GVHD. We demonstrated that, after adoptive transfer, TCRαβ(+)CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-)NK1.1(-) double-negative (DN) T cells are increased in the peripheral lymphoid organs and skin of double Tg mice and exhibit a Vα2(+)Vβ5(+)TCR that has the same TCR specificity as OT-I cells. These DN T cells isolated from tolerant double Tg mice proliferated in response to OVA peptide and produced IFN-γ in the presence of IL-2. These cells could also suppress the proliferation of OT-I cells and were able to specifically kill activated OT-I cells through Fas/Fas ligand interaction. These findings suggest that DN T cells that accumulate in double Tg mice have regulatory functions and may have a role in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance in vivo.

Topics: Adoptive Transfer; Animals; CD3 Complex; CD4 Antigens; CD8 Antigens; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Graft vs Host Disease; Immune Tolerance; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-2; Male; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Ovalbumin; Skin Diseases; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Transgenic (Tg) mouse models of autoimmunity have been used to express model antigens that can be recognized by T cells or by autoantibodies. To identify mechanisms of CD8-mediated tissue-specific autoimmune reactions and to identify potential treatments, we generated a double-transgenic (DTg) murine model of autoimmunity by crossing keratin-14 (K14)-soluble chicken ovalbumin (sOVA) mice, which express sOVA predominantly in external ear skin, with OT-I mice whose CD8 T cells express Vα2/Vβ5 regions of the TCR and are specific for SIINFEKL peptide (chicken ovalbumin (OVA) peptide 257-264) in association with class I major histocompatibility complex. The K14-sOVA/OT-I DTg mice develop a destructive process selectively targeting the external ear pinnae in the first 6 days of life. The ear bud area develops an intense inflammatory infiltrate of OT-I cells. Administration of the SIINFEKL peptide intravenously to pregnant F1 (filial 1, first filial generation of animal offspring from cross-mating two parental types) mice and subsequently intraperitoneally to newborn pups resulted in normal external ear development. Treatment with this self-peptide markedly reduced OT-I cell numbers, as well as downregulated the CD8 co-receptor. This model can be useful in studying localized, tissue-specific, immune-mediated skin disease, and provide information about potential therapies for autoimmune diseases in which specific molecular targets are known.

Topics: Animals; Autoimmune Diseases; Autoimmunity; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Female; Keratin-14; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Ovalbumin; Peptide Fragments; Pregnancy; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; Skin Diseases

In this issue, Paek et al. describe two phenomena. First, they show that intermediate concentrations of a "transgenic" autoantigen may cause a lichen planus-like autoimmune disease. Second, and more importantly, they show that high doses of peptide antigen suppress the expression of the T-cell receptor and coreceptors, particularly CD8, and that this suppression improves this T-cell-mediated, destructive inflammatory skin disease that is similar to erosive lichen planus.

Topics: Animals; Autoimmune Diseases; Autoimmunity; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Female; Male; Ovalbumin; Peptide Fragments; Pregnancy; Skin Diseases

Immune homeostasis in tissues is achieved through a delicate balance between pathogenic T-cell responses directed at tissue-specific antigens and the ability of the tissue to inhibit these responses. The mechanisms by which tissues and the immune system communicate to establish and maintain immune homeostasis are currently unknown. Clinical evidence suggests that chronic or repeated exposure to self antigen within tissues leads to an attenuation of pathological autoimmune responses, possibly as a means to mitigate inflammatory damage and preserve function. Many human organ-specific autoimmune diseases are characterized by the initial presentation of the disease being the most severe, with subsequent flares being of lesser severity and duration. In fact, these diseases often spontaneously resolve, despite persistent tissue autoantigen expression. In the practice of antigen-specific immunotherapy, allergens or self antigens are repeatedly injected in the skin, with a diminution of the inflammatory response occurring after each successive exposure. Although these findings indicate that tissues acquire the ability to attenuate autoimmune reactions upon repeated responses to antigens, the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Here we show that upon expression of self antigen in a peripheral tissue, thymus-derived regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) become activated, proliferate and differentiate into more potent suppressors, which mediate resolution of organ-specific autoimmunity in mice. After resolution of the inflammatory response, activated T(reg) cells are maintained in the target tissue and are primed to attenuate subsequent autoimmune reactions when antigen is re-expressed. Thus, T(reg) cells function to confer 'regulatory memory' to the target tissue. These findings provide a framework for understanding how T(reg) cells respond when exposed to self antigen in peripheral tissues and offer mechanistic insight into how tissues regulate autoimmunity.

Topics: Animals; Autoantigens; Autoimmune Diseases; Autoimmunity; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Gene Expression Regulation; Immunologic Memory; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Models, Animal; Ovalbumin; Skin Diseases; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Time Factors

Disorders of the skin immune activity are implicated in the pathogenesis of acquired inflammatory skin disorders. Inflammatory diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus and vitiligo have also been associated with local alterations of adrenergic mechanisms and emotional stress. Here we show that the beta-adrenergic receptors antagonist propranolol along with peptidoglycan, but not LPS, combined with intradermal injection of a soluble protein, shifted the recall memory response to the Th1 type. The specific beta2-AR antagonist ICI 118,551 did not reproduce this effect suggesting that inhibition of both beta1- and beta2-AR caused the Th1 polarization. The underlying mechanism included enhanced local expression of IFN-gamma, IL-12 and IL-23 as well as of IFN-beta and CXCR3 ligands during the innate phase of the response which resulted in an increase of antigen-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in the draining lymph node. In particular, modulation of inflammatory cytokines, and IFN-beta inducible genes expression appeared to involve also the beta1-AR. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells and IL-23 were recently reported to play a central role in the pathogenesis of Th1-sustained inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Thus, primary beta-adrenoceptors signaling defects or altered sympathetic nervous activity together with selected pattern recognition receptors activation might serve as initiation and/or persistence factors for numerous Th1-sustained inflammatory skin diseases.

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Betaxolol; Cell Movement; Dendritic Cells; Female; Immunity, Innate; Immunization; Immunologic Memory; Inflammation; Injections, Intradermal; Interferon-beta; Ligands; Lipopolysaccharides; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Transgenic; Ovalbumin; Peptidoglycan; Propanolamines; Propranolol; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; Receptors, CXCR3; Skin; Skin Diseases; Sympathetic Nervous System; Th1 Cells

To understand the mechanisms involved in immunological tolerance to skin-associated antigens, we have developed transgenic (Tg) mice that express a model self-antigen, membrane-bound chicken ovalbumin (OVA), under the control of a keratin 14 (K14) promoter. K14-mOVA Tg mice express OVA mRNA in the epidermis, and appear normal. K14-mOVA Tg mice failed to mount T cell and delayed type hypersensitivity reactions to OVA, suggesting that the Tg mice were tolerant to OVA. Skin dendritic cells, including Langerhans cells, may contribute to the tolerance induction because migratory skin DC derived from K14-mOVA efficiently activated CD8(+) T cells from OVA-specific T-cell receptor (Va2/Vb5) Tg (OT-I) mice. OT-I cells expanded and accumulated in skin-draining lymph nodes after intravenous injected into K14-mOVA mice and exhibited activation markers. Graft-versus-host disease-like skin lesions appeared in K14-mOVA mice by day 7 after injection of OT-I cells. These studies demonstrate that K14-mOVA Tg mice are susceptible to an autoimmunelike skin disease induced by passively transferred naïve CD8(+) OVA T-cell receptor Tg T cells, and serve as a good model for understanding self-tolerance and for the investigation of the pathogenesis, treatment and potential prevention of cell-mediated autoimmune reactions in skin.

Topics: Adoptive Transfer; Animals; Autoantigens; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Movement; Gene Expression; Graft vs Host Disease; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Keratin-14; Keratins; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Ovalbumin; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Skin Diseases; Transgenes

TCR transgenic mice that express a peptide antigen in keratinocytes develop a lethal CD8 T cell-dependent autoimmune disease. We employed an adoptive transfer system to understand this disease and show that transfer of low numbers of naive CD8 T cells into peptide transgenic mice caused chronic skin disease. The antigen-presenting cell that initiated this response was the epidermal Langerhans cell. Naive CD8 T cells proliferated extensively, migrated to tissues, developed effector function, and were capable of making a recall response. These features are very different from the abortive activation of CD8 T cells that occurred in response to the same antigen presented by APC from other tissues. Furthermore, tolerance was dominant when the antigen was presented by both Langerhans cells and other APC. These data suggest that Langerhans cells do not have tolerogenic properties in the steady state.

Topics: Adoptive Transfer; Animals; Antigen Presentation; Autoantigens; Autoimmune Diseases; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Movement; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Keratin-14; Keratins; Langerhans Cells; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Ovalbumin; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Skin Diseases

Transgenic mice were generated to establish an animal model for T-cell-mediated autoimmune skin disease. A membrane-bound form of OVA (mOVA) was specifically expressed under the control of the keratin 5 (K5) promoter in the epidermal and hair follicular keratinocytes of mice. Syngeneic, wild-type mice rejected the skin grafts of K5-mOVA mice with the generation of OVA-specific CTL. To study the CTL response against K5-mOVA skin, we used OT-I transgenic mice, which produce K(b)-restricted, OVA-specific CD8+ T cells. Accelerated rejection of K5-mOVA skin was demonstrated when transplanted onto OT-I mice. Furthermore, OT-I cells, when adoptively transferred into K5-mOVA mice, underwent activation and vigorous proliferation in the skin-draining lymph nodes. A bone-marrow-reconstitution assay demonstrated that K(b) presentation by bone-marrow-derived cells, but not epithelial cells, was required for this response, indicating that cross-priming was the basis for immunity in this model. Finally, transferred OT-I cells, activated by cross-priming, targeted the skin of K5-mOVA mice, resulting in development of skin lesions that were reminiscent of toxic epidermal necrolysis. We conclude that our system provides a useful model for autoimmune skin diseases and will aid understanding of the pathomechanism of drug eruption, viral exanthema, and graft-versus-host disease.

Topics: Animals; Keratinocytes; Lymph Nodes; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Ovalbumin; Skin Diseases; Skin Transplantation; T-Lymphocytes

Leflunomide has been identified as an immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory compound. Allergic disease is characterized by elevated serum IgE levels, production of allergen-specific IgE and the release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells and granulocytes. Here we demonstrate, using an in vivo murine model, the ability of leflunomide to down-regulate levels of total and allergen-specific serum IgE production. Mice receiving leflunomide (45 mg/kg) orally at the time of primary immunization with ovalbumin adsorbed to aluminium hydroxide adjuvant, showed a reduction in total serum IgE levels of 95%, 41% and 32% following primary, secondary and tertiary immunizations, respectively (P < 0.05). When leflunomide was administered both at the time of primary and subsequent immunizations, reductions in total and specific serum IgE levels of > 80% and > 38%, respectively, were observed (P < 0.05). Administration of leflunomide to mice which had already developed an IgE response resulted in reductions in total and specific serum IgE levels of > 80% and > 45%, respectively (P < 0.05). Following leflunomide treatment, animals failed to develop immediate cutaneous hypersensitivity responses when challenged intradermally with allergen. Down-regulation of immunoglobulin production was not restricted to IgE, since levels of allergen-specific IgG1 and IgG2a in serum were also reduced. The finding of significant reductions in total and allergen-specific IgM suggests that the mechanism of action does not involve selective inhibition of immunoglobulin class switching. A loss in production of the T helper cell-derived B cell differentiation factor IL-5 may account for the reduction in immunoglobulin levels. In adoptive transfer experiments leflunomide did not induce tolerance in allergen-reactive Th2 populations, contrary to animal disease models of transplantation and autoimmunity, where leflunomide was shown to induce tolerance in the effector T cell population.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Adoptive Transfer; Allergens; Animals; Antibody Formation; Down-Regulation; Female; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Immunoglobulin E; Immunologic Memory; Interleukin-5; Isoxazoles; Leflunomide; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Skin Diseases; T-Lymphocytes; Vaccination

The effect of a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor antagonist, ON-579, on experimental allergic skin and airway reactions was studied in vivo. ON-579 at doses of 1 and 20 mg/kg clearly inhibited U-46619-induced increases in respiratory resistance (Rrs) in guinea pigs. ON-579 at doses of 1, 20 and 50 mg/kg inhibited the aerosolized antigen-induced biphasic increase in Rrs in guinea pigs. Moreover, ON-579 clearly inhibited repeated aeroantigen-induced airway hyperreactivity in guinea pigs. ON-579, however, did not have any significant effects on allergic cutaneous reactions in rats. These results suggest that ON-579 is a relatively selective TXA2 antagonist, especially in the airways, and indicate the efficacy of ON-579 on antigen-induced increase in airway resistance and antigen-induced airway hyperreactivity in guinea pigs.

Topics: Aerosols; Airway Resistance; Animals; Antigens; Arthus Reaction; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Concanavalin A; Dinitrophenols; Guinea Pigs; Histamine; Hypersensitivity; Ketotifen; Leukocyte Count; Male; Mice; Ovalbumin; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; Phenoxyacetates; Rats; Receptors, Thromboxane; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Skin Diseases; Sulfonamides

A novel and potent antagonist of platelet-activating factor (PAF), Y-24180 (4-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-[2-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethyl]-6,9-dimethyl-6H- thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4] diazepine) was investigated for the effects on the skin reactions induced by chemical mediators and the Arthus reactions. In the rat dorsal skin, Y-24180 (0.1-10 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited increase in vascular permeability by the intradermal PAF injection in a dose dependent manner and the inhibitory activity was 60 times more potent than that of WEB 2086. While even at doses as large as 10 mg/kg, p.o., it had no effect on vascular permeability in the rat skin induced by histamine, serotonin, bradykinin and leukotriene D4. On a reversed passive Arthus reaction in rat dorsal skin, Y-24180 (0.1-1 mg/kg, p.o.) markedly inhibited vascular permeability in a dose dependent manner and the inhibitory activity was 15 times more potent than that of WEB 2086. Y-24180 also inhibited the Arthus dermal reaction in rabbits (0.03-0.3 mg/kg, p.o.) and guinea pigs (0.1-1 mg/kg, p.o.). In addition, Y-24180 (0.1-10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the exudate volume and the number of infiltrated inflammatory cells in the reversed passive Arthus pleural reaction in rats. Furthermore, in rat passive Arthus pancreatitis, Y-24180 (0.3-10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited the dye extravasation from the pancreas. These results provide strong evidence that endogenous PAF plays an important role as a mediator in the type III allergic inflammation.

Topics: Animals; Arthus Reaction; Azepines; Capillary Permeability; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Guinea Pigs; Male; Molecular Structure; Ovalbumin; Pancreatitis; Platelet Activating Factor; Rabbits; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Skin; Skin Diseases; Triazoles

SR 27417, the first member of a newly developed series of platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists inhibited in a dose-dependent manner PAF-induced oedema formation in rabbit skin when administered i.d. premixed with PAF (ED50 = 3.3 +/- 0.15 pmol/site i.d. (intradermally) (n = 5). The effect of SR 27417 was over 660 times more potent than that of the triazolothienodiazepine, WEB-2086 (ED50 = 5.4 +/- 0.71 nmol/site i.d.) (n = 5). SR 27417 protected rabbits from PAF-induced plasma extravasation with an ED50 value of 16 +/- 3 micrograms/kg when given i.v. 1 h before PAF challenge. It was also effective when given p.o. 3 h before PAF i.d. administration (ED50 = 0.18 +/- 0.07 mg/kg p.o.) (n = 5). This effect of SR 27417 was selective for PAF since inflammatory responses induced by other mediators (bradykinin, histamine, N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenyl-alanine, leukotriene B4) were not affected. After i.v. or oral administration (1 and 5 mg/kg respectively) SR 27417 had an extended duration of activity (between 72 and 96 h). In presensitized rabbits, SR 27417 premixed with the allergen inhibited dose-dependently allergen-induced plasma exudation (ED50 = 12 +/- 0.08 nmol/site i.d.) (n = 5) (vs. 850 +/- 98 nmol/site (n = 5) for WEB-2086). Similarly, i.v. injection of SR 27417 (1 mg/kg i.v.) inhibited allergen-induced vascular permeability. These results confirm that PAF plays a major role in the development of cutaneous anaphylaxis and that SR 27417 may be an effective prophylactic drug.

Topics: Allergens; Animals; Antigens; Edema; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Ovalbumin; Platelet Activating Factor; Rabbits; Skin Diseases; Thiazoles

The amount of non-collagenous proteins is increased greatly during the pathological calcification of rat skin experimentally induced by dihydrotachysterol (DHT) and Ovalbumin (topical cutaneous calciphylaxis). This is accompanied by an increase in the total amount and concentrations of protein-bound serine phosphate [Ser(P)], threonine phosphate [Thr(P)] and gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla), almost all of which can be extracted from the tissue and can be dissociated from collagen in 0.5M EDTA. The EDTA-soluble, non-collagenous proteins are rich in aspartic and glutamic acids, similar to the non-collagenous, EDTA-soluble proteins of bone, cementum and calcified cartilage, and quite distinct from those of dentin and enamel.

Topics: 1-Carboxyglutamic Acid; Animals; Calciphylaxis; Dihydrotachysterol; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Glutamates; Ovalbumin; Phosphoserine; Phosphothreonine; Rats; Serine; Skin; Skin Diseases; Threonine

Six non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, metiazinic and niflumic acids, iburofen, indometacin, ketoprofen and phenylbutazone, were tested on two anaphylactic skin reactions to ovalbumin: the passive reaction in the rat and active anaphylaxis in the guinea pig. In the rat, only niflumic and metiazinic acids reduced very slightly the reaction. In the guinea pig, ibuprofen, phenylbutazone, metiazinic acid and ketoprofen had good activity. The results are discussed.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Guinea Pigs; Hypersensitivity; Male; Ovalbumin; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; Rats; Skin Diseases