IMMUNOPROPHYLAXIS OF ALLERGEN-INDUCED IMMUNOGLOBULIN-E SYNTHESIS AND AIRWAY HYPERRESPONSIVENESS IN-VIVO BY GENETIC IMMUNIZATION

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 resu lts in its long-term expression and the induction of specific immune r esponses. Significantly, this approach prevents the induction of immun oglobulin E synthesis, histamine release in bronchoalveolar fluids, an d airway hyperresponsiveness in rats challenged with aerosolized aller gen. Furthermore, this suppression is persistent and can be transferre d into naive rats by CD8(+) T cells from gene-immunized rats. These fi ndings suggest that allergen-gene immunization is effective in modulat ing allergic responses, and may provide a novel therapeutic approach f or allergic diseases.