title: Healthy immune response to allergens: T regulatory cells and more.
abstract: The specific immune response to allergens is decisive in the development of clinically healthy or allergic states. In healthy individuals, the B-cell response varies between there being no response and the production of IgG(4)- or IgG(1)-dominating allergen-specific antibodies in the presence or absence of low amounts of IgE. If a detectable immune response is mounted, T regulatory type 1 (Tr1) cells specific for common environmental allergens consistently represent the dominant subset in healthy individuals. Exposure to high doses of allergens leads to a high concentration of specific IgG(4), detectable IgE and a Tr1 type of immune response. Induction of IL-10- and TGF-beta-producing Tr1 cells, IgG(4) isotype blocking antibodies, and suppressed mast cells, basophils and eosinophils represent major components of a relatively normalized immune response after allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT).
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), Obere Strasse 22, CH-7270 Davos, Switzerland. akdism@siaf.unizh.ch
authors.forename: Mübeccel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akdis
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G