Vaccination with genetically engineered allergens prevents progression of allergic disease.
IgE-mediated allergy affects >25% of the population in industrialized countries. Repeated contact with the disease-eliciting allergens induces rises of allergen-specific IgE Abs and progression of the disease to more severe manifestations. Our study uses a type of vaccine that is based on genetically modified allergen derivatives to treat allergic patients. We developed hypoallergenic derivatives of the major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1, by genetic engineering and vaccinated birch pollen-allergic patients (n = 124) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Active treatment induced protective IgG Abs that inhibited allergen-induced release of inflammatory mediators. We also observed a reduction of cutaneous sensitivity as well as an improvement of symptoms in actively treated patients. Most important, rises of allergen-specific IgE induced by seasonal birch pollen exposure were significantly reduced in vaccinated patients. Vaccination with genetically engineered allergen derivatives is a therapy for allergy that not only ameliorates allergic reactions but also reduces the IgE production underlying the disease.
Niederberger
V
V
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Vienna General Hospital, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Horak
F
F
Vrtala
S
S
Spitzauer
S
S
Krauth
M-T
MT
Valent
P
P
Reisinger
J
J
Pelzmann
M
M
Hayek
B
B
Kronqvist
M
M
Gafvelin
G
G
Grönlund
H
H
Purohit
A
A
Suck
R
R
Fiebig
H
H
Cromwell
O
O
Pauli
G
G
van Hage-Hamsten
M
M
Valenta
R
R
D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics*; D029662:Betula / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000517:prevention & control; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015202:Protein Engineering; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D012621:Seasons; D014612:Vaccines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014612:Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D007073:Immunoglobulin E