Allergen Immunotherapy (allergen + immunotherapy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Allergen immunotherapy in early childhood: between Scylla and Charybdis!

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 5 2005
Giovanni B. Pajno
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Regulatory T cells in bronchial asthma

ALLERGY, Issue 3 2009
K. Ryanna
The main focus of this review was the role of a specific subset of T cells with immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive activities, termed regulatory T cells (Tregs), in the pathogenesis and treatment of bronchial asthma. Evidence that these cells are important in maintaining immune homeostasis in health and exhibit impaired activity in active disease will be discussed. Their therapeutic potential is perhaps best highlighted by evidence that therapies with demonstrated efficacy in allergic and asthmatic disease are associated with the induction or restoration of regulatory T-cell function, e.g. glucocorticoids, allergen immunotherapy. Strategies to improve the safety and efficacy of these treatments and that induce or boost Tregs in bronchial asthma are discussed. [source]


Targeting the MHC class II pathway of antigen presentation enhances immunogenicity and safety of allergen immunotherapy

ALLERGY, Issue 1 2009
J. M. Martínez-Gómez
Background:, Current s.c. allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) leads to amelioration of IgE-mediated allergy, but it requires numerous allergen injections over several years and is frequently associated with severe side-effects. The aim of this study was to test whether modified recombinant allergens can improve therapeutic efficacy in SIT while reducing allergic side-effects. Methods:, The major cat allergen Fel d 1 was fused to a TAT-derived protein translocation domain and to a truncated invariant chain for targeting the MHC class II pathway (MAT-Fel d 1). The immunogenicity was evaluated in mice, while potential safety issues were assessed by cellular antigen stimulation test (CAST) using basophils from cat-dander-allergic patients. Results:, MAT-Fel d 1 enhanced induction of Fel d 1-specific IgG2a antibody responses as well as the secretion of IFN-, and IL-2 from T cells. Subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy of mice using the modified Fel d 1 provided stronger protection against anaphylaxis than SIT with unmodified Fel d 1, and MAT-Fel d 1 caused less degranulation of human basophils than native Fel d 1. Conclusion:, MAT-Fel d 1 allergen enhanced protective antibody and Th1 responses in mice, while reducing human basophil degranulation. Immunotherapy using MAT-Fel d 1 allergen therefore has the potential to enhance SIT efficacy and safety, thus, shortening SIT. This should increase patient compliance and lower treatment costs. [source]


Effect of grass pollen immunotherapy with Alutard SQ® on quality of life in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis

ALLERGY, Issue 11 2007
R. J. Powell
Background:, Treatment of allergic rhinitis with subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy is effective in terms of reductions in symptoms and seasonal use of reliever medication. Its effect on quality of life (QoL), reflecting the impact of symptoms on work/school performance and leisure activities is, however, important and often overlooked. Aims of the study:, To assess effect on QoL of specific immunotherapy with two doses of Alutard SQ®Phleum pratense in patients with moderately to severe seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis inadequately controlled by standard drug therapy. Methods:, Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 410 patients with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Participants were randomized (2 : 1 : 1) to receive Alutard SQ®P. pratense (ALK-Abelló) at maintenance doses of 100 000 SQ-U (203 subjects), 10 000 SQ-U (104 subjects) or placebo (103 subjects) given by subcutaneous injections. The groups were well matched for demographics and baseline symptoms. Quality of life was assessed using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire which covers seven domains of health before and in the peak of the pollen season. Results:, While all domain scores were significantly improved when comparing 100 000 SQ-U with placebo, two domain scores were significantly improved when comparing 10 000 SQ-U with placebo. When comparing 100 000 SQ-U with 10 000 SQ-U, four domain scores were significantly improved. Conclusion:, Treatment with Alutard SQ® significantly improved the seasonal QoL of patients suffering from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The improvement was more pronounced and wider ranging in patients who received the higher 100 000 SQ-U maintenance dose. [source]


Peptide immunotherapy for allergic diseases

ALLERGY, Issue 3 2007
M. Larché
Specific allergen immunotherapy has been widely practised for almost 100 years. Whilst this approach is disease-modifying and efficacious, the use of whole allergen preparations is associated with an unacceptably high prevalence of allergic adverse events during treatment. Many approaches to reduce the allergenicity of immunotherapy preparations whilst maintaining immunogenicity are under development. One such approach is the use of short synthetic peptides which represent major T-cell epitopes of the allergen. Major potential advantages of this approach include markedly reduced capacity to cross-link immunoglobulin-E and activate mast cells and basophils, and ease of manufacture and standardization. Promising results in preclinical studies have led to the translation of this approach to clinical studies in humans. Peptide immunotherapy is currently under development for allergic and autoimmune diseases. [source]


T lymphocytes expressing CCR3 are increased in allergic rhinitis compared with non-allergic controls and following allergen immunotherapy

ALLERGY, Issue 1 2007
J. N. Francis
Background:, In T cell-associated allergic inflammation, homing of T-helper 2 (Th2) effector cells to mucosal sites may be influenced by chemokine receptor expression. Previous studies have identified CCR3 and CCR4 as putative markers of Th2 cells and CCR5 and CXCR3 as markers of Th1 cells. The aim of this study was to assess differential chemokine receptor expression from symptomatic atopic grass pollen-sensitive subjects, compared with patients on high-dose allergen injection immunotherapy (IT) and healthy controls. Methods:, We examined chemokine receptor expression (CCR1,7 and CXCR1,4) by flow cytometry of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We also depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) populations of CCR3+ CD4+ cells by magnetic bead separation and cells were stimulated with grass pollen allergen for 6 days. Cytokine production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:, On freshly isolated PBMC, atopic individuals exhibited increased numbers of CCR3+ CD4+ cells compared with normal controls (P < 0.01). CCR3 expression in IT patients was reduced compared with matched atopic rhinitic controls (P < 0.05) and comparable with that observed in normal subjects. Depletion of CCR3+ CD4+ cells from allergen-stimulated PBMC cultures resulted in decreased interleukin (IL)-5 production compared with whole CD4+ populations (P < 0.05). Freshly isolated CCR3+ CD4+ cells have significantly higher intracellular IL-4 and lower IFN- , levels than CCR3, CD4+ cells. CD4+ T cells cultured from both peripheral cells and nasal biopsies demonstrated increased expression of CCR3 in the presence of IL-4 (P < 0.05). Conclusion:, CCR3+ CD4+ T cells are increased in allergic rhinitis, are reduced by allergen IT, have a Th2 phenotype and contribute to allergen-specific responses. Strategies against CCR3+ T cells may be effective in human allergic diseases. [source]


Systemic and specific treatment for a global disease: allergen immunotherapy revisited

ALLERGY, Issue 7 2006
M. L. Kowalski
First page of article [source]


Urinary leukotriene E4 levels in children with allergic rhinitis treated with specific immunotherapy and anti-IgE (Omalizumab)

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
Matthias Volkmar Kopp
Recently, we were able to demonstrate that Omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, reduces in vitro leukotriene (LT) release of peripheral leukocytes stimulated with allergen in children with allergic rhinitis undergoing allergen immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anti-IgE in combination with specific immunotherapy (SIT) on urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) levels. Children and adolescents with sensitization to birch and grass pollens and suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis were included in a phase III, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical study. Within the four-arm study, patients were randomized to receive SIT for either birch or grass pollen and to receive either subcutaneous anti-IgE or placebo for 24 weeks during the pollen season. From a total population of 225 children, we collected three urine samples in a subgroup of 19 children [n = 12 boys (63%); mean age 11.8 years; range 7.2,17.5 years; Group A (n = 10): SIT (grass or birch) + anti-IgE; Group B (n = 9): SIT (grass or birch) + placebo]. Urine samples were collected before, during and at the end of treatment. Endogenous urinary LTE4 was separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and determined by enzyme immunoassay with a specific antibody. No differences in urinary LTE4 concentrations were observed between the anti-IgE and the placebo groups before (A: 35.2; B: 36.5 nmol/mol creatinine), during (A: 27.0; B: 29.3) and after treatment (A: 28.9; B: 26.5 nmol/mol creatinine). We conclude that urinary LTE4 levels are not helpful in monitoring patients treated with anti-IgE and SIT. [source]


Blocking antibodies in allergen immunotherapy: the Yin and Yang

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 4 2004
C. L. Hardy
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Specific allergen immunotherapy: time for alternatives?

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 1 2002
J. Douglass
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Changes in interferon-, production following specific allergen immunotherapy: biology vs methodology

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2000
Larché
First page of article [source]