Background

Specific allergen immunotherapy (SIT) is recommended for persistent allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma resistant to pharmacotherapy, and is the only disease-modifying treatment in that benefit persists after stopping treatment [1, 2]. However, subcutaneous injection of immunotherapy (SCIT) extracts carries a risk of anaphylaxis, whilst sublingual therapy (SLIT) requires daily treatment over three years. One approach to reducing the risk of anaphylaxis with SCIT is to modify allergen extracts to reduce IgE binding [3]. Such allergoids include extracts treated with acid (“depigmented”), prior to polymerisation with glutaraldehyde [4]. These extracts showed efficacy in clinical trials for both birch and grass pollen-related allergic rhinitis, and house dust mite-related asthma [5–8]. In these studies and large observational series, side effects were minimal [5–9]. The resulting depigmented-polymerised (Depig-pol) allergen extracts are of very large molecular mass (0.5-3 MDa as opposed to less than 100 KDa for native allergen extracts), and have at least 50 times reduced IgE binding in vitro in competition assays and in vivo in skin prick testing [4, 10, 11]. Analysis of sequences obtained by enzymatic digestion of Depig-pol and native extracts suggests conservation of major allergen sequences for both dust mite and pollen extracts [10, 11], and in vivo immunogenicity studies show induction of IgG directed against the majority of major allergens upon treatment of patients with these extracts and in studies involving immunization of experimental animals [5–7, 11].

Whilst allergoids have reduced IgE binding (allergenicity) which may improve safety, it has also been suggested that they have reduced T cell stimulating activity (immunogenicity) which could compromise efficacy [12]. Studies of T cell activity of allergoids in terms of proliferation of primary T cells, lines or clones, have suggested variable degrees of loss of ability to stimulate T cells, either generally or restricted to some epitopes [12–16]. However, the immunological efficacy of SIT most likely relates to induction of tolerance to allergens through interactions with regulatory T cells (Treg) [17]. Studies with unmodified allergen extracts suggest increased numbers and activity of both CD4+CD25hiFoxp3hi T cells and IL-10 producing T cells after SIT treatment, together with induction of the IL-10-dependent antibody IgG4 [17]. Thus expansion of Tregs may be a more relevant activity to assess for allergen extracts for SIT.

In order to improve efficacy, reduce dosing and improve safety of allergen immunotherapy a number of adjuvants have been examined. In particular, there is much current interest in 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, which can expand both induced IL-10-producing and Foxp3+ Treg in vitro, and improved effects of immunotherapy in animal models [18–21]. Vitamin D status and/or treatment of human volunteers with vitamin D derivatives correlated with or increased Foxp3+ T cell frequency in the periphery [19] and the airway in asthmatics [20] and IL-10 producing Treg in the periphery [18].

Here we have examined the relative stimulation of effector and regulatory T cells in vitro by unmodified and depigmented-polymerised allergen extracts, together with the effects of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Results

Depigmented-polymerised allergen extracts stimulate less T cell proliferation than native extracts, but similar cytokine production

Production of depigmented-polymerised extracts involves two steps which might alter T cell reactivity (depigmentation: acid hydrolysis then dialysis to remove low molecular weight non-allergen material, then polymerisation with glutaraldehyde). Therefore initial timecourse and dose-response experiments were performed to assess proliferation of PBMC from atopic donors (Table 1) in cultures stimulated with native, depigmented and depigmented-polymerised (Depig-pol) house dust mite (HDM) and grass pollen (GRASS) extracts. Maximal proliferation was seen at day 7 for all extracts except for Depig-pol HDM extract which was highest at day 9 (Figure 1A). Note that PBMC viability was comparable between HDM native and Depig-pol stimulated cultures, 76.8% (+/- 23%) and 78.2% (+/- 26%), respectively. Data for some of the experiments with grass pollen extracts has been presented elsewhere [7].

Table 1 Volunteer characteristics
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Figure 1
figure 1

Depigmented-polymerised house dust mite extract stimulates significantly less PBMC proliferation than unmodified native extract. PBMC (2x106/mL) were cultured with depigmented-polymerised (Depig-pol), depigmented (Depig) or native HDM extracts at different concentrations for different times: proliferation was assessed by thymidine incorporation, as described in Methods. N = 6. Statistical analysis by ANOVA. A Time course for proliferation of Depig-pol, Depig and native HDM extract-stimulated PBMC at a concentration of 100 μg/mL of each extract. p value for Depig-pol vs. native extract. B Dose-response for proliferation of Depig-pol, and native HDM extract-stimulated PBMC at day 7.

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Proliferation for depigmented HDM and GRASS extracts was very similar to that seen for native extracts, but proliferation was signficantly less for Depig-pol extracts of both HDM and GRASS when compared to native unmodified extracts (Figure 1B and ref [7]). For this reason, further comparisons were between native and Depig-pol extracts.

Cytokine production was also maximal at day seven for all cytokines except IL-10 which peaked at day 5 (data not shown). Seven days of culture was therefore used for further comparisons (except for IL-10). Production of IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13 did not differ significantly between cultures stimulated with native or depigmented-polymerised extracts of either HDM or GRASS (Figure 2, ref [7] and data not shown), whilst there was a non-significant trend for reduced IFNγ and significantly reduced IL-17 in depig-pol-stimulated cultures compared to native extract.

Figure 2
figure 2

Depigmented-polymerised house dust mite extract stimulates significantly reduced IL-17 production than unmodified native extract. PBMC (2×106/mL) were cultured with depigmented-polymerised (Depig-pol), depigmented (Depig) or native HDM extracts at different concentrations for different times: cytokine production was assessed by CBA, as described in Methods. N = 6. Statistical analysis by ANOVA. Dose-response for IL-10, IL-5, IFNγ and IL-17 production by Depig-pol, and native HDM extract-stimulated PBMC at day 5 (IL-10) or day 7 (IL-5, IFNγ and IL-17).

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Depigmented-polymerised allergen extracts expand regulatory T cells more than effector T cells in culture

To examine effects of native and depigmented-polymerised extracts in stimulation of regulatory or effector cells we examined expression of CD25, Foxp3 and CD127 after 7 days of culture of PBMC. Gating strategy was as described, to identify cells that we have previously shown to be regulatory in cultures [19]. For both HDM and GRASS, Depig-pol extracts expanded similar numbers of CD4+CD25+Foxp3hiCD127lo (regulatory T cells) compared to native extracts, but reduced numbers of CD4+CD25+Foxp3loCD127+ (effector cells, Figure 3A). When expressed as a ratio of CD25+Foxp3hi CD127lo to CD25+Foxp3loCD127+ cells this was significantly higher for Depig-pol extracts of both HDM and GRASS when compared to cultures stimulated with native extracts (Figure 3B).

Figure 3
figure 3

Depigmented-polymerised allergen extracts favour regulatory T cell-phenotype over effector phenotype. A Contour plots showing CD4+CD25+Foxp3hi populations (regulatory phenotype) and CD4+CD25+Foxp3low cells (effector phenotype) after 7-day culture with depigmented-polymerised (Depig-pol) or native HDM extracts. B Ratios of CD4+CD25+Foxp3hi to CD4+CD25+Foxp3low T cells from 7-day cultures stimulated with depigmented-polymerised or native extracts. N = 5, p values for paired t-test.

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Addition of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to cultures further favours CD25hiFoxp3hiCD127lo T cells

Addition of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 at 10-7 M further reduced expansion of effector cells in cultures stimulated with both native and Depig-pol extracts of HDM and GRASS (Figure 4A), whilst numbers of CD4+CD25+Foxp3hiCD127lo regulatory cells were not reduced. Thus the ratio of regulatory to effector cells after cultures was further increased by addition of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (Figure 4B). In addition 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 reduced effector cytokines, particularly IL-17 and IFNγ, but did not significantly affect IL-10 production (Figure 5 and data not shown).

Figure 4
figure 4

1 α , 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 increases the ratio of regulatory to effector T cell phenotype. A Contour plots showing CD4+CD25+FoxP3hi populations and CD4+CD25+Foxp3low T cells after 7 days culture with depigmented-polymerised (Depig-pol) or native grass pollen extracts with and without 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (10-7 M). B Ratios of Foxp3hi to Foxp3low T cells in cultures stimulated for 7 days with HDM or grass pollen with and without 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. N = 5, analysis by paired t-test.

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Figure 5
figure 5

1 α , 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 decreases production of effector cytokines but does not alter IL-10 production. Cytokine production (by CBA) in 7-day PBMC cultures stimulated with (A) HDM or (B) Grass depigmented-polymerized (Depig-pol) or native extracts with and without 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (10-7 M). N = 5, analysis by paired t-test or Wilcoxon test.

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Discussion

These data suggest reduced proliferation and cytokine production (particularly IL-17 and IFNγ) by PBMC from atopic donors stimulated with Depig-pol extracts compared to native, unmodified allergen extracts for grass pollen and house dust mite. However, Depig-pol allergen extracts for grass pollen and HDM favoured expansion of regulatory T cells over effector T cells in vitro, and this balance was further tilted towards regulation by 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Thus Depig-pol allergen extracts may favour regulatory T cells over effector T cell activation, which might be expected to augment tolerance induction in SIT.

Several reports have previously examined T cell responses to allergoids [12–16]. All showed reduced proliferation of PBMCs stimulated with allergoid when compared to native allergen, and variable reductions in cytokine production. This difference in T cell proliferation between allergoid and native extract was suggested to vary with antigen presenting cell type, although this was not confirmed in a subsequent study [15, 16]. Analysis of responses of T cell lines and clones suggested variable loss of T cell epitopes in allergoid extracts compared to native extracts [13–15]. Our data also suggests reduced proliferation and effector cytokine production by PBMC stimulated by Depig-pol extracts compared with native extract, and these findings were confirmed by reduced expansion of cells with effector phenotype in Depig-pol stimulated cultures. We would argue that reduced activation and expansion of effector T cells by Depig-pol extracts will actually be beneficial in the context of SIT, where effector T cell activation may contribute to side effects. This is demonstrated most graphically for peptide therapy where small allergen peptides which did not cross link IgE nonetheless activated effector T cells and lead to isolated late asthmatic reactions in patients [22]. We did not examine loss of T cell epitopes comparing Depig-pol extracts with native extracts, although previous mass spectroscopic analysis has suggested preservation of most major allergen sequences [10]. Even if some T cell epitopes were lost during the depigmentation and polymerisation process, we would argue that the critical activity for tolerance induction is expansion of regulatory T cells that work in both antigen-specific and non-antigen specific fashion, as shown by linked suppression to cat major allergen Fel d 1 peptides not included in the experimental peptide immunotherapy treatment in an animal model [23].

Although Depig-pol extracts stimulated reduced effector T cell expansion and activation compared to native extracts, numbers of regulatory T cells were similar, so the ratio of regulatory to effector T cells in cultures stimulated with Depig-pol extracts was significantly higher than for native extract. Activation requirements for effector versus regulatory T cells are incompletely understood, but we would suggest that antigen-presenting cell processing of and activation by these molecules of vastly different mass may be relevant in the case of Depig-pol versus native extracts [10, 11].

Interestingly, our data both here and in previous studies [20] suggest that depigmented-polymerised extracts and 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 both favour Foxp3hi T cells (by reducing expansion of effector T cells). Initial reports suggested that 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 acted to expand IL-10 producing T cells [18]. However, our recent data shows that 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 can also expand Foxp3hi Tregs [20]. The type of Treg emerging depended on the concentration of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in cultures, and the cytokine milieu and essentially no co-expression of Foxp3 and IL-10 was observed, although both populations exhibited comparable suppressive activity [19, 20]. The present findings are in keeping with that data in that a relatively higher concentration favoured Foxp3hi Tregs (albeit 10-7 M here rather than 10-6 M in an anti-CD3 driven culture system), and in these conditions IL-10 producing T cells were not detected (data not shown). Our previous report suggested that the major effect of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was to suppress proliferation of effector T cells and maintain Foxp3 expression by regulatory T cells: our current data agrees with this, as we show reduced effector T cells and cytokines, and a preserved Foxp3hi Treg population [20].

SIT with depigmented-polymerised extracts, which have at least 95% reduced IgE binding compared to native allergen extract, has been shown to be clinically effective in reducing symptom scores for rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma with minimal side effects and rapid up-dosing [5–8]. Further studies are required to examine the effects of Depig-pol extracts on Tregs in vivo, and to determine whether 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 can enhance tolerance in a clinical setting of SIT.

Conclusion

Depigmented-polymerised allergen extracts appear to favour Treg expansion over activation of effector T cells to a greater extent than unmodified allergen extracts. 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 further reduces effector T cell activation by both allergen extracts, and may be a useful adjuvant for SIT.

Methods

Volunteers and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture

Atopic allergic volunteers were sensitized to both grass pollen and house dust mite (by skin prick tests and/or specific IgE). Clinical details are shown in Table 1. All had persistent AR and in 3 cases asthma. None was treated with systemic corticosteroids and all had stable disease controlled with topical treatment only. None of the volunteers had received immunotherapy. The study was approved by Guy’s Hospital Ethics Committee and all volunteers gave written consent. Skin prick tests were performed using Soluprick (ALK Horsholm, Denmark) and specific IgE was measured using immunoCAP (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden). PBMC were separated by Lymphoprep density centrifugation (Axis-Shield, Oslo, Norway), then cultured in RPMI 1640 media with L-glutamine, gentamicin (all from Invitrogen, Paisley, UK), and 5% AB human serum (PAA, Pasching, Austria) in triplicate in 96 well plates at 2×106 cells/ml for 7 days with a range of concentrations of allergen extracts or medium alone in a 5%CO2 incubator at 37°C. Proliferation was assessed by incorporation of titrated thymidine (1 μCi; added 16 hours before analysis) and cytokine production by cytometric bead array (BD Biosciences, Oxford UK). Depigmented-polymerised Phleum pratense (Timothy grass) pollen and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (house dust mite, HDM) extracts were compared with native, unmodified allergen extracts, and initially with depigmented non-polymerised extracts (all prepared as described by Laboratorios Leti, Tres Cantos, Spain, 4).

Assessment of regulatory and effector cells in culture and effect of 1α, 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 Flow cytometry was used to examine the relative numbers of T cells with regulatory or effector phenotype after 7 days culture as previously described [19] (CD4+CD25hiCD127loFoxp3hi for regulatory T cells, and CD4+CD127+CD25+Foxp3lo for effector T cells). All antibodies were from BD Biosciences (Oxford, UK) except that for Foxp3, which was from EBiosciences (Hatfield, UK). We have previously used this gating strategy to identify regulatory T cells after culture, and confirmed suppressive activity of these cells by re-culture of sorted cells [19]. We added 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (BIOMOL Research Labs, Plymouth Meeting PA, USA) to further cultures of PBMC from atopic donors with both depigmented-polymerised and native allergen extracts. Pilot experiments showed the optimal dose of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 for expansion of Foxp3+ T cells to be 10-7 M in this culture system (data not shown).

Statistical analysis

Data for proliferation and cytokine production was compared by ANOVA for dose response data for native and Depig-pol extracts. Values for regulatory/effector cell ratios and cytokines were compared by paired or unpaired t-test or Mann Whitney U/Wilcoxon tests as appropriate after testing for normality of distribution. All statistics were performed using GraphPad Prism (La Jolla, CA, USA).