Background: Immunotherapy for the treatment of pollen allergies traditionally involves a series of parenteral injections of a crude pollen extract. Successful application of this treatment results in the development of systemic tolerance to the sensitizing allergens, including the induction of blocking antibodies. Objective: We sought to investigate whether oral immunization with a recombinant pollen allergen could induce a systemic immune response, and the production of systemic blocking antibodies in mice. Methods: C57BL/10 mice were orally administered rLol p 5 or sodium chloride solution via gavage. Results: We report that the oral administration of rLol p 5 induced a systemic immune response, including the induction of both blocking and interspecific cross-reactive antibodies. Conclusion: Our results suggest that oral administration of a major grass pollen allergen can induce the development of a systemic immune response including the production of systemic blocking and cross-reactive antibodies, a response that may offer immunological protection upon subsequent allergen exposure.

Keywords:
Allergy, Grass pollen, Immunotherapy, Lol p 5, Rye grass
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© 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel
2003
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