title: Mechanisms of immunotherapy.
abstract: Specific allergen injection immunotherapy is highly effective in IgE-mediated diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and venom anaphylaxis. Immunotherapy inhibits both early and late responses to allergen exposure. Immunotherapy is accompanied by increases in allergen-specific IgG, particularly the IgG4 isotype, which blocks not only IgE-dependent histamine release from basophils but also IgE-mediated antigen presentation to T cells. Immunotherapy acts on T cells to modify peripheral and mucosal T(H)2 responses to allergen in favor of T(H)1 responses. Recent studies have identified increased IL-10 production in peripheral blood and mucosal surfaces after immunotherapy. IL-10 has numerous potential antiallergic properties, including suppression of mast cell, eosinophil, and T-cell responses, as well as acting on B cells to favor heavy chain class switching to IgG4. These IL-10-producing cells might be so-called regulatory T cells and appear to be identified by the CD4(+)CD25(+) phenotype. Studies in mice suggest that dendritic cells play a vital role in induction of regulatory T cells. Novel approaches to immunotherapy currently being explored include the use of adjuvants, such as monophosphoryl lipid A or nucleotide immunostimulatory sequences derived from bacteria that potentiate T(H)1 responses. Alternative strategies include the use of allergen-derived peptides or modified recombinant allergen vaccines that act on T cells while minimizing the IgE-dependent mast cell activation that is dependent on the native allergen conformation.
authors.affiliation: Upper Respiratory Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, Doverhouse Street, London SW3 6LY, United Kingdom. stephen.till@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Till
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Kayhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nouri-Aria
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Durham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007073:Immunoglobulin E