Sublingual immunotherapy with tropomyosin in an experimental model of bronchial hyperresponsiveness

• Grant number: 18/02930-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Acordo de Cooperação: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Luisa Karla de Paula Arruda
• Grantee: Amanda Rodrigues Maia
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic disease and an important public health problem due to its high prevalence. The disease is strongly associated with exposure to environmental allergens and genetic predisposition, and it could lead to death from an acute asthma attack. It significantly affects the quality of life of the individual, and leads to high rates of health-related expenses, so treatment is very important. There are several medications available for the control of the disease, however they are of chronic use and do not alter the natural history of the disease. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) is an effective treatment option because it induces tolerance to the allergen, with a long-lasting response even after the end of treatment. In allergic asthma, immunotherapy has been administered by subcutaneous (SCIT) or sublingual routes (SLIT); with both forms of administration, reversal or improvement of clinical symptoms of asthma, decreased frequency of acute attacks, improvement of lung function and of quality of life has been observed. Tropomyosin is a major allergen among invertebrates, including cockroaches and mites, inducing strong IgE response. A preliminary study of our group revealed that SLIT with cockroach tropomyosin in a murine model caused a decrease in eosinophilia and of IL-5 and IL-13 cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage, but did not cause improvement in bronchial hyperresponsiveness. It is possible that the limited efficacy was due to the short treatment period, considering that in patients with allergic asthma, it is a prolonged treatment, lasting from 3 to 5 years. In view of this, the present study aims to evaluate longer SLIT protocols using an experimental model of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in mice. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MAIA, Amanda Rodrigues. Tropomyosin of cockroach Periplaneta americana: role in sublingual immunotherapy in an experimental model of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and in the investigation of IgE response in patients with atopic dermatitis. 2019. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.