BACKGROUND: The effect of conventional allergen immunotherapy on allergen-specific T lymphocyte cytokine production is incompletely understood, particularly during the initial phase of treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively follow the kinetics of change in CD4(+) T cell cytokine secretion during the course of conventional immunotherapy. METHODS: Six allergic individuals were treated with extracts of Dermatophagoides farinae/Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus or with rye grass pollen (Lolium perenne) allergen, but not both, by using an internally controlled conventional immunotherapy protocol. CD4(+) T cells from peripheral blood were examined in vitro at varying intervals after the initiation of immunotherapy by stimulation with D farinae or L perenne group I antigen. The quantity of IL-4 and IFN-gamma produced and its relationship to clinical improvement was determined. RESULTS: The ratio of allergen-specific IL-4/IFN-gamma production by CD4(+) T cells from 4 of 6 individuals receiving immunotherapy greatly increased during the period when the dose of allergen was increasing. However, after high-dose maintenance therapy was achieved, this ratio decreased in subjects responding clinically to, but not in those failing, immunotherapy. In addition, late-phase skin reactions and allergen-specific IgE levels in responding, but not in nonresponding, subjects diminished over the course of immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: Conventional immunotherapy may initially exacerbate allergic disease by increasing allergen-specific IL-4 and allergen-specific IgE production. Later clinical improvement is associated with a reduction in allergen-specific IL-4 production and in allergen-specific serum IgE.
BACKGROUND: The effect of conventional allergen immunotherapy on allergen-specific T lymphocyte cytokine production is incompletely understood, particularly during the initial phase of treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively follow the kinetics of change in CD4(+) T cell cytokine secretion during the course of conventional immunotherapy. METHODS: Six allergic individuals were treated with extracts of Dermatophagoides farinae/Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus or with rye grass pollen (Lolium perenne) allergen, but not both, by using an internally controlled conventional immunotherapy protocol. CD4(+) T cells from peripheral blood were examined in vitro at varying intervals after the initiation of immunotherapy by stimulation with D farinae or L perenne group I antigen. The quantity of IL-4 and IFN-gamma produced and its relationship to clinical improvement was determined. RESULTS: The ratio of allergen-specific IL-4/IFN-gamma production by CD4(+) T cells from 4 of 6 individuals receiving immunotherapy greatly increased during the period when the dose of allergen was increasing. However, after high-dose maintenance therapy was achieved, this ratio decreased in subjects responding clinically to, but not in those failing, immunotherapy. In addition, late-phase skin reactions and allergen-specific IgE levels in responding, but not in nonresponding, subjects diminished over the course of immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: Conventional immunotherapy may initially exacerbate allergic disease by increasing allergen-specific IL-4 and allergen-specific IgE production. Later clinical improvement is associated with a reduction in allergen-specific IL-4 production and in allergen-specific serum IgE.
Authors: Petra A Wachholz; Kayhan T Nouri-Aria; Duncan R Wilson; Samantha M Walker; Adrienne Verhoef; Stephen J Till; Stephen R Durham Journal: Immunology Date: 2002-01 Impact factor: 7.397
Authors: V Schulten; V Tripple; K Aasbjerg; V Backer; G Lund; P A Würtzen; A Sette; B Peters Journal: Clin Exp Allergy Date: 2016-03 Impact factor: 5.018
Authors: Youn Ho Shin; Myung Hyun Sohn; Sejo Oh; Kyung Eun Lee; Tae Soon Yong; Jung Won Park; Chein Soo Hong; Kyu Earn Kim; Soo Young Lee Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 2.153