[Immunological mechanisms in allergen-specific immunotherapy: impact on future trends in type-1 allergy management].
Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only treatment of Type-I allergy that leads to a modulation of the immune response to the eliciting allergen. The repeated administration of high doses of antigen induces a state of "antigen-specific non-responsiveness", i.e. immunologic tolerance to the injected antigen. Accordingly, during and after SIT the proliferative response of allergen-specific T lymphocytes in response to the administered antigen are significantly reduced. According to recent publications, this effect is due to the production of the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin (IL)-10, which is induced during the treatment. On the other hand, a distinct change in the quality of the immune response to the injected allergen can be observed: the production of the IgE-inducing cytokine IL-4 by T helper cells decreases. Moreover, the release of other proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators is suppressed. Together, these events result in a marked decrease of symptoms during allergen exposure and reduced reactivity during challenge.
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Institut fur Allgemeine und Experimentelle Pathologie, Wien.
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
Immunologische Wirkmechanismen bei spezifischer Immuntherapie: Zukunftsaspekte für die Behand-lung der Typ-I Allergie.