ISSN:
1365-2222
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background Allergen-specific immunotherapy represents a causal form of treatment for IgE-mediated allergies. The allergen extract-based analyses of immunotherapy-induced effects yielded highly controversial results regarding a beneficial role of therapy-induced IgG antibodies.Objective We analysed allergen-specific IgE, IgG subclass, and IgM responses in patients treated with a grass pollen allergy vaccine adjuvanted with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), a Th1-inducing agent, and in a placebo group using recombinant timothy grass pollen allergen molecules (rPhl p 1, rPhl p 2, rPhl p 5).Results The strong induction of allergen-specific IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies observed only in the actively treated group was associated with significant clinical improvement. Therapy-induced allergen-specific IgM and IgG2 responses were also noted in several actively treated patients. An inhibition of allergen-dependent basophil histamine release was only obtained with sera containing therapy-induced allergen-specific IgG, but not with sera obtained before therapy or from placebo-treated patients. Moreover, patients with therapy-induced allergen-specific IgG antibodies showed a reduced induction of allergen-specific IgE responses during seasonal grass pollen exposure.Conclusion Successful immunotherapy with the MPL-adjuvanted grass pollen allergy vaccine is associated with the production of allergen-specific IgG antibodies. These blocking antibodies may have protective effects by inhibiting immediate-type reactions and systemic increases of IgE responses caused by seasonal allergen exposure.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2222.2003.01699.x
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