Transcutaneous pollinosis immunotherapy using a solid-in-oil nanodispersion system carrying T cell epitope peptide...

Antigen-specific immunotherapy is the only curative approach for the treatment of allergic diseases such as Japanese cedar pollinosis. Immunotherapy using a T cell epitope vaccine in combination with the adjuvant R848 is of particular interest as a safe and effective approach to treat allergic diseases. Herein, we propose a simple and easy to handle vaccine administration method using the original solid-in-oil (S/O) nanodispersion system that permeates through the skin. The S/O nanodispersion system is composed of nanoparticles of hydrophilic molecules surrounded with hydrophobic surfactants that are dispersed in an oil vehicle. The system has potential to carry and deliver both hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactives. Hydrophilic T cell epitope peptide was efficiently delivered through mouse skin using the S/O nanodispersion system and lowered antigen-specific IgE levels in pollinosis model mice. Addition of the hydrophobic adju1vant R848 significantly lowered the antibody secretion and shifted the Th1/Th2-balance toward Th1-type immunity in the model mice, showing the potential to alleviate Japanese cedar pollinosis.