C5a receptor 1^-/- mice are protected from the development of IgE-mediated experimental food allergy

Food-induced anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction caused by Fcε-receptor activation on mast cells (MCs). The exact mechanisms breaking oral tolerance and the effector pathways driving food allergy remain elusive. As complement is activated in food-induced anaphylaxis, we aimed to assess the role of C5a in disease pathogenesis.

Oral antigen-induced food-induced anaphylaxis was induced in BALB/c wild-type (wt) and C5ar1^-/- mice. Readouts included diarrhea development, changes in rectal temperature, hematocrit, antigen-specific serum IgE, MCPT-1, and intestinal MC numbers, as well as FcεR1-mediated MC functions including C5a receptor 1 (C5aR1) regulation. Further, histamine-mediated hypothermia and regulation of endothelial tight junctions were determined.

Repeated oral OVA challenge resulted in diarrhea, hypothermia, increased hematocrit, high OVA-specific serum IgE, and MCPT-1 levels in wt mice. Male C5ar1^-/- mice were completely whereas female C5ar1^-/- mice were partially protected from anaphylaxis development. Serum MCPT-1 levels were reduced gender-independent, whereas IgE levels were reduced in male but not in female C5ar1^-/- mice. Mechanistically, IgE-mediated degranulation and IL-6 production from C5ar1^-/- BMMCs of both sexes were significantly reduced. Importantly, FcεR1 cross-linking strongly upregulated C5aR1 MC expression in vitro and in vivo. Finally, C5ar1^-/- male mice were largely protected from histamine-induced hypovolemic shock, which was associated with protection from histamine-induced barrier dysfunction in vitro following C5aR targeting.

Our findings identify C5aR1 activation as an important driver of IgE-mediated food allergy through regulation of allergen-specific IgE production, FcεR1-mediated MC degranulation, and histamine-driven effector functions preferentially in male mice.