title: Allergen-specific immunotherapy: a role for T-cell anergy.
abstract: T cells induce both a specific and nonspecific effect during an allergic immune response. Antigen receptors on T cells recognize peptide fragments of foreign proteins associated with products of the major histocompatibility complex expressed on the membranes of antigen-presenting cells. The recognition event triggers T-cell activation, secretion of lymphokines, and the isotypic switch from IgG to IgE synthesis, which is mediated by IL-4. This cascade results in sensitization of the mast cell, elaboration of various mediators, and local tissue inflammation. The interaction of the antigen-presenting cell and T cell holds implications for therapeutic modulation of the allergic response by the antigen. Animal studies have demonstrated that peptides containing T-cell epitopes can be used to control the immune response. Peptides delivered with adjuvants cause stimulation, whereas peptides delivered without adjuvants result in specific T-cell anergy or tolerance. Soluble peptide can be used to induce tolerance to the peptide and to protein molecules containing that peptide. The administration of peptides containing T-cell epitopes to allergic individuals may thereby represent an important component of the next generation of allergen-specific immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sheffer
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000939:Epitopes