High-dose cutaneous exposure to mite allergen induces IgG-mediated protection against anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND

The relationship among natural allergen exposure, induction of blocking antibody and the occurrence of atopic allergy-particularly in the presence of IgE production-is debatable.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the relationship between the dose of cutaneous exposure to dust mite allergen and susceptibility to the IgE-mediated allergic response in relation to IgG production.

METHODS

NC/Nga mice were epicutaneously exposed to various doses of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen to induce atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions. We then evaluated the skin lesions, induction of mite-specific immune responses, and susceptibility to anaphylaxis.

RESULTS

Dose-dependent exacerbation of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions and increases in mite-specific IgG and IgE production were observed. However, mice exposed to relatively low doses of mite allergen showed hypersusceptibility to mite allergen-specific anaphylaxis. We also showed that adoptive transfer of total IgG from Dp-sensitized mice rescued mice from the hypersusceptibility seen in those exposed to low doses of mite allergen.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

High-dose cutaneous exposure to dust mites induced effective blocking IgG production, even if accompanied by IgE production. Our data might support the concept that an increase in IgG titre, not a decrease in IgE titre, is a marker of clinical improvement in allergen-specific immunotherapy.