title: New opportunities for allergen immunotherapy using synthetic peptide immuno-regulatory epitopes (SPIREs).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) reduces allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) symptoms, but long-term efficacy requires treatment for 3-5 years. Synthetic peptide immuno-regulatory epitopes, a new class of AIT, are allergen peptides with a shorter, more convenient treatment regimen that could potentially have benefits on adherence and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phase 2 trials of therapies derived from cat, house dust mite, grass, and ragweed allergen peptides demonstrated significant reduction in ARC symptoms after short-course treatment; improvement was sustained for 18-24 months posttreatment. We conducted a PubMed literature search for clinical publications using the search terms AIT; allergen peptides; ARC; cat, grass, house dust mite, and ragweed allergy; SCIT; SLIT; and synthetic peptides. Expert commentary: Long-term disease modification is a realistic goal of AIT. The inconvenience of conventional AIT regimens negatively impacts long-term persistence and, thus, efficacy. In comparison, SPIREs have a more convenient treatment regimen that could potentially have benefits on adherence and outcomes.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Rhinology and Allergology , Wiesbaden , Germany.
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klimek
authors.affiliation: a Center for Rhinology and Allergology , Wiesbaden , Germany.|b Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim , Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pfaar
authors.affiliation: c Department for Dermatology and Allergology , Allergy-Center-Charité , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Margitta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Worm
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology; D000068456:Clinical Studies as Topic; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010446:Peptide Fragments
keywords: Allergen immunotherapy; Der p 1; Fel d 1; SPIREs; allergen peptides; cat allergy; grass allergy; house dust mite allergy; intradermal immunotherapy; ragweed allergy; synthetic peptide immuno-regulatory epitopes