Inhibition of murine reaginic antibody responses by nasal immunotherapy with modified allergen.

Optimal conditions were established for induction of reaginic antibodies to Lolium perenne pollen allergens in mice by intranasal dosing of allergens with Bordetella pertussis vaccine. This antibody response could be inhibited by pretreatment of the mice by nasal administration of 100 microgram of glutaraldehyde-modified L. perenne allergens 9 times in 3 weeks before priming, whereas native allergens, in doses of 5 microgram, did not inhibit an IgE response to subsequent priming. It was not possible to suppress an ongoing reaginic antibody response by intranasal treatment with either native allergens, or glutaraldehyde-modified allergens. Relevance to immunoprophylaxis of allergic disease is discussed.