Immunotherapy as a disease modifier.
Immunotherapy was formerly the treatment of allergic disease by repeated exposure to allergen. Other approaches to immune modulation have emerged using new knowledge of T cell function. The so-called hygiene hypothesis argues that alterations in our environment have resulted in a failure of the immune system to develop normally, such that excessive Th2 type responses to antigen exposures occur. These observations have prompted therapies designed to promote a shift from Th-2 to Th-1 responses. These therapies include bacterial vaccines and stimulation of the immune system with Toll like receptor ligands or bacterial nucleotide immunostimulatory sequences (CpG motifs). Traditional desensitization immunotherapy is being re-examined and anti-IgE therapy is also enjoying a measure of success.
Martin
James G
JG
Meakins Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. james.martin@mcgill.ca
Shalaby
Karim
K
Michoud
Marie-Claire
MC
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome