Seasonal changes of humoral and cellular immune responses to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen allergens in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) with pollinosis

The natural occurrence of Japanese cedar [Cryptomeria japonica (CJ)] pollin osis has been reported in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata). The present st udy was designed to investigate seasonal changes in immunological reactions to CJ pollen allergens in monkeys with CJ pollinosis. Blood samples were c ollected from six monkeys with CJ pollinosis before and after CJ pollen sea son. Seasonal changes in specific IgE and IgG to major allergens (Cry j 1 a nd Cry j 2) were observed before and after CJ pollen season. The humoral re sponses decreased significantly before CJ pollen and increased after CJ pol len season. Similar seasonal changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferative responses to CJ allergens were observed before and after CJ p ollen season. These humoral and cellular immune responses might serve as a biomarker for assessing new immunotherapies for monkeys with pollinosis.