Pru p 3‐Epitope‐based sublingual immunotherapy in a murine model for the treatment of peach allergy

[Scope] Food‐specific immunotherapy (SIT) is a promising treatment for lipid transfer protein (LTP)‐syndrome. We propose a novel sublingual‐SIT (SLIT) that combines a Pru p 3 T‐cell peptide and an oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) with CpG motifs (ODN‐CpG) as adjuvants to induce a specific Th1/Treg response.[Methods and results] LTP‐peach allergic mice were treated sublingually with a combination of a CpG sequence and mono‐ or tetravalent systems including a Pru p 3 peptide, D1(Prup3) or D4(Prup3). Mice were challenged intraperitoneally with Pru p 3 one or three weeks after SLIT and tolerance was assessed. Mice treated with D1(Prup3)+CpG were protected from anaphylaxis after Pru p 3 challenge. They showed no change in body temperature, lower levels of Pru p 3‐specific IgE and IgG1 antibodies and higher levels of sIgG2a compared to the untreated group. They had fewer IgE and IgG1 secreting cells and more sIgG2a secreting cells. Moreover, a significantly lower number of Pru p 3‐specific CD4+T cells and a higher number of Treg cells were found, alongside a Th1 cytokine pattern. These changes were maintained for three weeks after stopping treatment.[Conclusion] D1Prup3+CpG represents a promising SIT for food allergy. It is easily synthesized and induces protection from anaphylaxis to Pru p 3 that is maintained for at least three weeks.The study was funded by the Institute of Health “Carlos III” of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: PI12/02481 and PI15/00559, RETICS RIRAAF (RD12/0013/0001, RD12/0013/0014, RD12/0013/0016), RETICS ARADyAL (RD16/0006/0001 RD16/0006/0003 and RD16/0006/0011) and Sara Borrell Program (CD14/00242). Andalusian Regional Ministry of Economy and Knowledge: CTS‐7433), Nicolas Monardes Program (C‐0044‐2012 SAS2013) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTQ2014‐52328‐P and AGL2014‐52395‐C2‐2). Grants were cofunded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).Peer reviewe