title: Mechanisms of subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy.
abstract: Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only curative approach in the treatment of allergic diseases defined up-to-date. Peripheral T-cell tolerance to allergens, the goal of successful allergen-SIT, is the primary mechanism in healthy immune responses to allergens. By repeated administration of increased doses of the causative allergen, allergen-SIT induces a state of immune tolerance to allergens through the constitution of T regulatory (Treg) cells, including allergen-specific interleukin (IL)-10-secreting Treg type 1 cells and CD4(+)CD25(+)Treg cells; induction of suppressive cytokines, such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor β; suppression of allergen-specific IgE and induction of IgG4 and IgA; and suppression of mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, and inflammatory dendritic cells. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the mechanisms of allergen-SIT with emphasis on the roles of Treg cells in allergen-SIT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Allergy, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ulucanlar Street, No 11, Ankara, Turkey 06080.
authors.forename: Ozge U
authors.initials: OU
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.forename: Mubeccel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akdis
authors.forename: Cezmi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Akdis
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000906:Antibodies; D016753:Interleukin-10