title: TLR9-based immunotherapy for allergic disease.
abstract: A significant amount of data generated over the last few years supports the contention that Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9-based immunotherapy is effective in the prevention and treatment of animal models of allergic disorders. We will review here our experience with two distinct therapeutic strategies: TLR9-based immunomodulation and TLR9-based vaccination. Immunomodulation of allergic inflammation by TLR9 ligand (TLR9-L) is transient. It prevents both the early and late phases of the allergic reaction in experimental models of allergic asthma, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis. It also reverses ongoing allergic inflammation. Indoleamine 2.3-dioxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme of tryptophan, is induced by TLR9-L and mediates, in part, these anti-inflammatory effects. TLR9-based immunomodulation is independent of allergens and, therefore, has a potential therapeutic advantage in a broad spectrum of allergic patients. On the other hand, TLR9-based vaccination therapy is an allergen-specific mode of immunotherapy, which provides long-term inhibition of allergen-specific hypersensitivities. Current clinical trials with TLR9-based immunotherapy demonstrate high immunogenic and therapeutic efficacy, as well as improved safety when compared with conventional allergen desensitization. Thus, if proven efficient, therapeutic strategies with TLR9-L may revolutionize the current treatment of allergic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raz
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010641:Phenotype; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000276:immunology*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9; D014612:Vaccines