title: Short-term preseasonal immunotherapy: is early clinical efficacy related to the basophil response?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An aluminum hydroxide-adsorbed depot allergoid preparation of six-grass pollen allergens has been developed for short-term preseasonal immunotherapy in pollinosis. However, only limited knowledge exists about its immunological and clinical effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the basophil response, which can explain early clinical findings of short-term preseasonal allergoid immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 31 patients allergic to grass pollens received one course of short-term preseasonal allergoid immunotherapy or placebo. Immunogenicity was assessed by the levels of specific IgG4, IgE antibodies and an allergen-induced CD203c basophil activation test. The primary clinical end point was the combined symptom and medication score/average combined score (ACS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a 52.9% difference in ACS between the treatment and placebo groups in favor of immunotherapy (p = 0.01). Active treatment induced Phleum pratense-specific IgG4 and IgE antibodies (p < 0.05). A decrease in allergen-induced basophil activation at submaximal allergen concentrations was demonstrated at the end of immunotherapy and at the peak of the grass pollen season after immunotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that grass pollen-allergic patients treated with one course of short-term preseasonal allergoid immunotherapy exhibit a decrease in allergen-induced basophil activation, an increase in allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies and early clinical improvement.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Immunology and Allergy, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seçil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kepil Özdemir
authors.forename: Betül Ayşe
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sin
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Güloğlu
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: İkincioğulları
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gençtürk
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mısırlıgil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D031784:Phleum / Q000276:immunology; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C427944:ENPP3 protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; C451253:grass pollen extract, alum-adsorbed; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D011755:Pyrophosphatases