title: [Immunotherapy of allergic rhinitis without allergens? : new options for immunomodulation by vaccination with virus-like particles and CpG motifs].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergen-specific immunotherapy is generally accepted as the only causal therapy for allergic rhinitis. Up to now there has been a dogma in immunotherapy for inhalation allergies that at least allergen components are necessary for effective therapy. This dogma could, however, be swayed by current results of effective immunotherapy without allergens. Virus-like particles (VLP) represent a novel and interesting aspect for immunotherapy for inhalation allergies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Initial experiences with successful immunotherapy without allergens are available. This article describes the currently available clinical experiences with bacteriophage VLPs filled with oligonucleotides which contain CpG motifs with tumor antigens on the surface for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vaccination with VLPs was found to be well tolerated, immunogenic and effective for prophylactic treatment of various infections. Bacteriophage VLPs filled with CpG motifs with tumor antigens on the surface led clinically to an induction of specific T-cells in tumor patients and were successfully implemented as adjuvants during prophylactic vaccinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VLP technique in combination with the use of CpG motifs could contribute to the causal treatment of complex diseases, such as malignancies, autoimmune diseases and allergies.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Rhinologie und Allergologie, An den Quellen 10, 65183, Wiesbaden, Deutschland, ludger.klimek@allergiezentrum.org.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klimek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willers
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schendzielorz
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kündig
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Senti
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D058425:Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle