Phl p 5 resorption in human oral mucosa leads to dose-dependent and time-dependent allergen binding by oral mucosal Langerhans cells, attenuates their maturation, and enhances their migratory and TGF-β1 and IL-10–producing properties

Background Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is safe and effective as treatment of allergic rhinitis and mild asthma. Oral mucosal Langerhans cells (oLCs) play a central role. However, little is known about allergen binding by oLCs during mucosal allergen resorption and its impact on oLC functions. Objective Binding of Phl p 5 to oLCs was studied in a standardized ex vivo model to investigate mechanisms important for SLIT. Methods Human oral mucosal biopsies were incubated with the grass pollen allergen Phl p 5. Migration, binding of Phl p 5, phenotype and cytokine production, and T-cell priming of Phl p 5–binding oLCs were analyzed. Results Significant uptake required more than 5 minutes, and dose-dependent binding of Phl p 5 to oLCs was saturated at 100 μg/mL Phl p 5. Furthermore, Phl p 5 significantly increased the migratory capacity of oLCs but attenuated their maturation and strongly promoted the release of TGF-β1 and IL-10 by oLCs themselves as well as by cocultured T cells. Conclusion Oral mucosal Langerhans cells bind Phlp5 in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, leading to an increased production of tolerogenic cytokines and an enhanced migratory capacity but decelerated maturation of oLCs.