title: Epitope-specific down-regulation of anti-allergen antibodies following injection of allergen-antibody complexes in hypersensitive patients.
abstract: Administration to allergic patients of complexes made of allergen and anti-allergen antibodies results in a reduction in the levels of specific IgE and IgG antibodies that is limited to antibodies present in the complexes. The epitope-specific nature of this reduction is demonstrated by taking advantage of the cross-reactivity between Der p I and Der f I. In addition, an increased production of anti-idiotypic antibodies is demonstrated. As such treatment significantly improves patients with allergic asthma or atopic dermatitis, it may represent a valuable alternative to conventional immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Jacquemin
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Saint-Remy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E