title: The role of allergen-specific T cells in the allergic immune response: relevance to allergy vaccination.
abstract: Recent research has elucidated many of the immunologic mechanisms that underlie atopic allergies. In particular, it has become clear that the role of CD4+ allergen-specific T cells is crucial for the induction of IgE and eosinophilia, factors that mediate the immediate hypersensitivity reaction and late-phase responses, respectively. Therefore, the reactivity patterns and activation requirements of allergen-specific T cells are important parameters for understanding and manipulating the allergic immune response. This review addresses these issues and discusses their relevance to the further development of allergy vaccines.
authors.affiliation: ALK-Abelló, Hørsholm, Denmark.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Neerven
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D014612:Vaccines