Systemic Administration of Olygodeoxynucleotides with CpG Motifs at Priming Phase Reduces Local Th2 Response and Late Allergic Rhinitis in BALB/c Mice

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) with CpG motifs (CpG ODN) induce T helper (Th)1-type reaction. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of CpG ODN in the development of late allergic rhinitis induced by ovalbumin (OVA), which is one of Th2 diseaes, in BALB/c mice. Effects of a single dose of synthetic CpG-ODN (50 μg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) at the priming phase (on day 0) by OVA on the development of late eosinophilic rhinitis at respiratory areas were compared to the control mice treated with its vehicle (ODN without CpG motifs; 50 μg). Animals were again sensitized by OVA (on day 10) i.p., and 4 days after second sensitization animals were challenged by OVA intranasally (on day 14). Four days after challenge, eosinophilic reactions, nasal lesions and local cytokine values were examined. Compared to the control group, the CpG ODN-administration increased production of OVA-specific Th1 cytokine (interferon-γ) and decreased productions of ovalubmin-specific Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13] in nasal cavity fluids, supernatants of splenocytes and/or sera. Also, eosinophilia and increased total IgE values were decreased in mice treated with the CpG ODN compared to the control group. Moreover, nasal lesions with infiltration of eosinophils were prominently reduced by the CpG ODN-treatment compared to the control mice. The present study suggests that the systemic administration of CpG ODN at the priming phase may reduce local OVA-specific Th2 responses, resulting in decreased nasal pathology in the late allergic eosinophilic rhinitis. The authors wish it to be known, in their opinion, Toshiharu Hayashi and Keiko Hasegawa contributed equally to this work.