Immunologic response to administration of standardized dog allergen extract at differing doses.
BACKGROUND
The immunologic response to immunotherapy with dog extract is not well characterized.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the immunologic response to 3 doses of dog extract expressed as their Can f 1 content.


METHODS
Cluster immunotherapy was administered to 28 patients with dog allergy who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment arms: placebo or acetone-precipitated extract containing 0.6 mug, 3.0 mug, or 15.0 mug Can f 1 per 0.5 mL maintenance dose. Studies included titrated skin prick tests, the late cutaneous response, titrated nasal challenge with dog extract, and serum allergen-specific IgE and IgG(4). Dog allergen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was performed with measurement of secreted cytokines by ELISA and of intracellular cytokines by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
There was a significant dose-dependent response in suppression of titrated skin prick tests and suppression of the late cutaneous response. There was a significant increase from baseline in dog-specific IgG(4) in both the high-dose and low-dose groups and a dose-dependent suppression of secreted TNF-alpha and increase in secreted TGF-beta. There was a dose-dependent trend in suppression of secreted IL-4 with a significant decrease from baseline in the high-dose group. There were no significant changes in symptom scores; lymphocyte proliferation; secreted IFN-gamma, IL-10, or IL-5; or intracellular cytokine production.


CONCLUSIONS
The dose-response in immunologic parameters after immunotherapy with dog extract is similar to that previously demonstrated with cat extract.


CONCLUSIONS
The greatest and most consistent response is seen with a dose containing 15 mug Can f 1.
Lent
Anne M
AM
Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA. lenta@njc.org
Harbeck
Ronald
R
Strand
Matthew
M
Sills
Michael
M
Schmidt
Kimberly
K
Efaw
Benjamin
B
Lebo
Terri
T
Nelson
Harold S
HS
D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C091462:allergen Can f I; D015847:Interleukin-4