Needleless intranasal administration of HVJ-E containing allergen attenuates experimental allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common chronic diseases. Although current medications are highly effective in controlling its symptoms, they do not reverse the allergen-specific hypersensitivities that underlie the disease. Immunoglobulin E is a key mediator of AR, and preventing its production is clinically important. In this study, we developed an efficient needleless intranasal protein delivery system using the hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope vector (HVJ-E). Intranasal delivery of ovalbumin (OVA) once a week for 3 weeks using this system enhanced OVA-induced interferon-gamma production by murine splenocytes. This treatment also attenuated the OVA-induced release interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5 from splenocytes and the production of plasma OVA-specific immunoglobulin E in OVA-sensitive AR model mice. Thus, allergen-containing HVJ-E may be useful for noninvasive treatment of AR.