A novel allergen-specific therapy with regulatory T cells induced by CD40-silenced dendritic cells

We previously reported that dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with CD40 siRNA and pulsed by ovalbumin (OVA) (CD40-silenced OVA DCs) inhibited allergic responses through facilitation of regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, to our knowledge, no prior study has examined allergen-specific therapy by administration of siRNA-induced Tregs for the control of allergy.

We aimed to investigate the effect of Tregs induced in vitro on allergic responses and symptoms in vivo.

Mice were treated with Tregs (OVA DCs-induced Tregs) induced by CD40-silenced OVA DCs or Tregs (nonantigen DCs-induced Tregs) induced by DCs transfected with CD40 siRNA and pulsed with no antigen, and the effects of these Tregs on allergic responses were estimated.

Administration of nonantigen DCs-induced Tregs prevented not only OVA-induced allergy but also keyhole limpet hemocyanin-induced allergy. Administration of OVA DCs-induced Tregs significantly reduced the number of sneezes and nasal rubbing movements, eosinophilia in the nasal mucosa, and the level of OVA-specific IgE in mice with OVA-induced allergy, compared with CD40-silenced nonantigen DC-induced Tregs in numbers 20 times greater, even in mice with established allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, Tregs induced by CD40-silneced DCs pulsed with Cry j 1, a major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen, inhibited Japanese cedar-induced allergy.

This study shows for the first time that both antigen-independent Tregs and antigen-specific Tregs can be induced by siRNA, and that therapy with siRNA-induced Tregs inhibits allergic responses and symptoms. It also shows that antigen-specific Tregs have more potent effects in inhibiting allergic responses than antigen-nonspecific Tregs.