Immunization against TGF-β1 reduces collagen deposition but increases sustained inflammation in a murine asthma model

ABSTRACTTransforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is involved in the processes of airway inflammation and remodeling; however, its reported roles in asthma pathogenesis are controversial. We sought both to investigate the effects of active immunization targeting TGF-β1 on allergen-induced airway inflammatory responses and to evaluate its possible application for asthma treatment. BALB/c mice were immunized with a virus-like-particle (VLP) vaccine presenting a TGF-β1 peptide. For the preventive intervention of acute allergic airway inflammation, immunization was conducted before sensitization and challenges with ovalbumin (OVA), and for the therapeutic treatment of chronic inflammatory responses, immunization was initiated after inflammatory responses were established. Preventive immunization with VLPs led to increased proinflammatory IL-4, IL-13, and IL-33 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) with no significant effects on lung tissue inflammation and airway goblet cell hyperplasia. Therapeutic tr...