Reviewer's report
Title:An adjuvant free mouse model of oral allergenic sensitization to rice seeds
protein
Version: 1Date:28 July 2010
Reviewer: Eva Untersmayr
Reviewer's report:
In the current manuscript the authors report their adjuvant-free sensitization
protocol for the induction of rice allergy in a BALB/c model. This model is
potentially interesting, however, several questions arise upon review of the
manuscript:
- Major Compulsory Revisions
1. The immunization protocol lacks two important control groups: One with daily
PBS gavages and challenges with rice total protein and another with daily rice
flour sensitization and challenges with PBS. Without these control groups it is not
possible to discriminate which antigen application at which dosage was decisive
for induction of rice specific IgE antibodies.
2. It has been previously reported that immunizations with high doses of
allergens induce tolerance rather than sensitization and high allergen
concentrations (20-100 mg) were found to even suppress antigen-specific IgG1,
IgG2a and IgE (Helm RM et al Environ Health Perspect 2003, Strid j et al
Immunology 2004). The authors should discuss their results with regards to
these publications.
3. It remains unclear to this reviewer why the author have chosen to use purified
rice proteins for intragastric challenges. This does not reflect the situation of
allergic patients. Please provide the rationale for the chosen experimental setup
in you manuscript.
4. The quality of figure 4 is rather poor. The authors might consider choosing
another presentation of the results obtained testing for vascular leakage.
5. Why were the antigens injected twice within 24 h for the passive cutaneous
anaphylaxis test?
6. The manuscript needs to be revised regarding English language.
- Minor Essential Revisions
1. The methods for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test is not easy to follow.
Please provide the information if all four test substances were injected in each
mouse and how the number of reaction sites (Table 1) was calculated.
2. Instead of heat inactivation it would be more elegant to use IgG1 purified from
the murine sera for the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test.
3. Figure 6: Please calculate IgE titers rather than presenting raw OD values.
- Discretionary Revisions
1. It would significantly enhance the findings of the study if the authors test sera
of rice allergic animals for reactivity with purified rice allergens to conclude on
major allergens in their model.
2. The authors might consider discussing their histological results obtained from
small intestinal tissue in the light of previously published data on an oral food
allergy model (Pali-Schöll et al. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2008)
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Reviewer's report
Title:An adjuvant free mouse model of oral allergenic sensitization to rice seeds
protein
Version: 1Date:28 July 2010
Reviewer: Eva Untersmayr
Reviewer's report:
In the current manuscript the authors report their adjuvant-free sensitization
protocol for the induction of rice allergy in a BALB/c model. This model is
potentially interesting, however, several questions arise upon review of the
manuscript:
- Major Compulsory Revisions
1. The immunization protocol lacks two important control groups: One with daily
PBS gavages and challenges with rice total protein and another with daily rice
flour sensitization and challenges with PBS. Without these control groups it is not
possible to discriminate which antigen application at which dosage was decisive
for induction of rice specific IgE antibodies.
2. It has been previously reported that immunizations with high doses of
allergens induce tolerance rather than sensitization and high allergen
concentrations (20-100 mg) were found to even suppress antigen-specific IgG1,
IgG2a and IgE (Helm RM et al Environ Health Perspect 2003, Strid j et al
Immunology 2004). The authors should discuss their results with regards to
these publications.
3. It remains unclear to this reviewer why the author have chosen to use purified
rice proteins for intragastric challenges. This does not reflect the situation of
allergic patients. Please provide the rationale for the chosen experimental setup
in you manuscript.
4. The quality of figure 4 is rather poor. The authors might consider choosing
another presentation of the results obtained testing for vascular leakage.
5. Why were the antigens injected twice within 24 h for the passive cutaneous
anaphylaxis test?
6. The manuscript needs to be revised regarding English language.
- Minor Essential Revisions
1. The methods for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test is not easy to follow.
Please provide the information if all four test substances were injected in each
mouse and how the number of reaction sites (Table 1) was calculated.
2. Instead of heat inactivation it would be more elegant to use IgG1 purified from
the murine sera for the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test.
3. Figure 6: Please calculate IgE titers rather than presenting raw OD values.
- Discretionary Revisions
1. It would significantly enhance the findings of the study if the authors test sera
of rice allergic animals for reactivity with purified rice allergens to conclude on
major allergens in their model.
2. The authors might consider discussing their histological results obtained from
small intestinal tissue in the light of previously published data on an oral food
allergy model (Pali-Schöll et al. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2008)
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:An adjuvant free mouse model of oral allergenic sensitization to rice seeds
protein
Version: 1Date:28 July 2010
Reviewer: Eva Untersmayr
Reviewer's report:
In the current manuscript the authors report their adjuvant-free sensitization
protocol for the induction of rice allergy in a BALB/c model. This model is
potentially interesting, however, several questions arise upon review of the
manuscript:
- Major Compulsory Revisions
1. The immunization protocol lacks two important control groups: One with daily
PBS gavages and challenges with rice total protein and another with daily rice
flour sensitization and challenges with PBS. Without these control groups it is not
possible to discriminate which antigen application at which dosage was decisive
for induction of rice specific IgE antibodies.
2. It has been previously reported that immunizations with high doses of
allergens induce tolerance rather than sensitization and high allergen
concentrations (20-100 mg) were found to even suppress antigen-specific IgG1,
IgG2a and IgE (Helm RM et al Environ Health Perspect 2003, Strid j et al
Immunology 2004). The authors should discuss their results with regards to
these publications.
3. It remains unclear to this reviewer why the author have chosen to use purified
rice proteins for intragastric challenges. This does not reflect the situation of
allergic patients. Please provide the rationale for the chosen experimental setup
in you manuscript.
4. The quality of figure 4 is rather poor. The authors might consider choosing
another presentation of the results obtained testing for vascular leakage.
5. Why were the antigens injected twice within 24 h for the passive cutaneous
anaphylaxis test?
6. The manuscript needs to be revised regarding English language.
- Minor Essential Revisions
1. The methods for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test is not easy to follow.
Please provide the information if all four test substances were injected in each
mouse and how the number of reaction sites (Table 1) was calculated.
2. Instead of heat inactivation it would be more elegant to use IgG1 purified from
the murine sera for the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test.
3. Figure 6: Please calculate IgE titers rather than presenting raw OD values.
- Discretionary Revisions
1. It would significantly enhance the findings of the study if the authors test sera
of rice allergic animals for reactivity with purified rice allergens to conclude on
major allergens in their model.
2. The authors might consider discussing their histological results obtained from
small intestinal tissue in the light of previously published data on an oral food
allergy model (Pali-Schöll et al. Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2008)
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
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