title: The efficiency of peptide immunotherapy for respiratory allergy.
abstract: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) was introduced more than a century ago and is yet the only disease-modifying treatment for allergy. AIT is currently conducted with whole allergen extracts and several studies clearly support its efficacy in the treatment of respiratory allergies, however the need for a long treatment - that affects costs and patients compliance - and possible IgE-mediated adverse events are still unresolved issues. Peptide immunotherapy is based on the use of short synthetic peptides which represent major T-cell epitopes of the allergen with markedly reduced ability to cross-link IgE and activate mast cells and basophils. Data from clinical trials confirmed the efficacy and tolerability of peptide immunotherapy in patients with cat allergy, with a sustained clinical effect after a short course treatment. Peptide therapy is a promising safe and effective new specific treatment for allergy to be developed for the most important allergens causing rhinitis or asthma.
authors.affiliation: a Allergy/Pulmonary Rehabilitation , Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Cristoforo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Parma , Parma , Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagni
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Parma , Parma , Italy.
authors.forename: Erminia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ridolo
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D010455:Peptides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Respiratory allergy; T cell epitopes; allergen immunotherapy; cat allergy; mite allergy; ragweed allergy; short synthetic peptides