title: Immunology in the Clinic Review Series; focus on allergies: immunotherapy for food allergy.
abstract: There is no approved therapy for food allergy. The current standard of care is elimination of the triggering food from the diet and accessibility to epinephrine. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment approach. While desensitization to most foods seems feasible, it remains unclear if a permanent state of tolerance is achievable. The research team at Duke is pioneering immunotherapy for food allergies. Work here has evolved over time from small open-label pilot studies to larger randomized designs. Our data show that immunological changes associated with immunotherapy include reduction in mast cell reactivity, decreased basophil responses, decreased specific-immunoglobulin (Ig)E, increased IgG4 and induction of regulatory T cells. Immunotherapy has generated much excitement in the food allergy community; however, further studies are needed before it is ready for clinical use.
authors: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Mousallem
authors: A W
authors: AW
authors: Burks
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010367:Arachis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021184:Nut Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004527:Egg Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008894:Milk Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004837:Epinephrine