Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2005 CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides inhibit RSV-enhanced allergic sensitisation in guinea pigs1 James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research, and 2 Dept of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada CORRESPONDENCE: R. G. Hegele, James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6. Fax: 1 6048069274. E-mail: rhegele@mrl.ubc.ca Keywords: Acute bronchiolitis, allergy, cytosine phosphate-guanine-oligodeoxynucleotides, respiratory syncytial virus
Received: February 9, 2004
Experimental respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection of guinea pigs is associated with enhanced allergic sensitisation to inhaled ovalbumin (OA) and low-level viral persistence in the lungs. Based on the T-helper (Th)1/Th2 paradigm, in which a Th2 shift is characteristic of an allergic response and less effective anti-viral immunity, the effects of immunotherapy with synthetic cytosine phosphate-guanine-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN), which are potent Th1 stimuli, on OA sensitisation with and without RSV infection were evaluated.
Measurements included quantitative histology for airway inflammation by T-cells and eosinophils, semiquantitative RT-PCR for lung Th1/Th2 balance (interferon (IFN)-
CpG-ODN immunotherapy did not prevent OA sensitisation of guinea pigs; however, in RSV-infected, OA-sensitised animals, CpG-ODN administration was associated with significant reductions of airway T-cells and eosinophils, increased lung IFN-
In conclusion, cytosine phosphate-guanine-oligodeoxynucleotides immunotherapy protects guinea pigs against respiratory syncytial virus-enhanced ovalbumin sensitisation and might be a relevant intervention in the context of post-bronchiolitis allergic sensitisation in children.
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