Decrease of allergen-specific T-cell response induced by local nasal immunotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The clinical efficacy and safety of local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) with lyophilized 'macronized' powder has been demonstrated. However, the immunological changes possibly induced by LNIT which may account for the clinical improvement are still unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of a successful LNIT-treatment on the allergen-driven T cell response, cytokine secretion and IgE and IgG antibody production.


METHODS
Three groups (untreated, subcutaneous immunotherapy- SIT- and LNIT-treated) of grass-sensitive patients suffering from seasonal rhinitic symptoms were ramdomized for the 2-year study. The proliferative response of PBMC to purified Rye-1 allergen and serum levels of grass-specific IgE and IgG were evaluated before treatment and during the 2-year subsequent pollination periods. The proliferative response of allergen-specific short-term T-cell lines, as well as production of allergen-driven cytokine by PBMC, were also assessed.


RESULTS
Both SIT and LNIT induced a significant reduction of symptom scores during the pollination season. SIT, but not LNIT, induced a significant change in serum levels of allergen-specific IgE and IgG antibody. By contrast, both SIT and LNIT reduced the increase of the proliferative response of allergen-specific T cells driven by natural allergen exposure and significantly decreased T cell proliferation to low doses of allergen, as shown also by the mitogenic index of allergen-specific T-cell lines. A reduced IL-4 and IFNgamma production by PBMC of LNIT- and SIT-treated patients was also observed in the absence of a clearcut TH2-TH1 switch.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that a common mechanism of both LNIT and SIT is the induction of T-cell tolerance, thus providing a rational basis to explain why LNIT may be clinically successful in allergic patients with rhinits.
Giannarini
L
L
Clinical Immunology Department, Istituto di Medicina Interna e Immunoallergologia, Università di Firenze, Italy.
Maggi
E
E
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000485:Allergens; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C042814:Lol p I protein, Lolium perenne; D010940:Plant Proteins; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies; C048844:anti-IgG; D007073:Immunoglobulin E