A DNA vaccine encoding a chimeric allergen derived from major group 1 allergens of dust mite can be used for specific immunotherapy

摘要

Immunization with DNA-based constructs has been shown to be against the antigen and the response is skewed in such a way as to ameliorate the symptoms of allergic disease. This approach is particularly useful in the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. The major group 1 allergen from house dust mites is one of the triggers of allergic asthma. This study explores whether a chimeric gene emR8/em, derived from the major group 1 allergen of house dust mite species (emDermatophagoides farinae/em and emDermatophagoides pteronyssinus/em), can be expressed in Human Embryonic Kidney 293 cells (HEK 293T) and whether such a construct can be used as a DNA vaccine in asthma therapy. The eukaryotic expression vector empcDNA3.1/em was used to express the R8 molecule in HEK 293T cells and successful expression of R8 was confirmed using a fluorescence microscope and western blot analysis. The efficacy of emR8/em as DNA vaccine was also assessed in a mouse asthma model. The emin vivo/em data showed that R8 rectified the TH1/TH2 imbalance typical of allergic inflammation and stimulated the proliferation of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Immunization with the emR8/em construct also decreased serum allergen-specific IgE production in this mouse asthma model. Our findings suggest that emR8/em may be a feasible potential DNA vaccine for specific immunotherapy (SIT) in the treatment of allergic asthma.