Efficacy of transgenic rice containing human interleukin-10 in experimental mouse models of colitis and pollen allergy

Abstract

Recombinant human interleukin-10 (hIL-10) is highly expressed in transgenic rice endosperm and forms active homodimers in the ER-derived hIL-10 body. In this study, we examined the preclinical efficacy of transgenic rice accumulating hIL-10 (hIL-10 rice) in in vivo experimental mouse models of colitis and pollen allergy. In the group of mice orally fed hIL-10 rice, the development of Japanese cedar pollen allergen-specific IgE and splenic T cell responses were significantly inhibited. In addition, oral feeding of hIL-10 rice showed therapeutic as well as prophylactic efficacy against experimental colitis developed in IL-10-deficient mice. These results indicate the clinical potentiality of hIL-10 rice for the control of inflammatory and allergic disorders through efficient delivery of hIL-10 to the gut-associated lymphoid tissue.