[Immunological principles of allergen-specific immune therapy]

Abstract

The immunological mechanisms of healthy and allergic immune responses, as well as allergen-specific immune therapy (ASIT) are determined by the activation of defined subpopulations of specific T-cells and the resulting cytokine pattern. Suppression of a Th2 cytokine pattern by regulatory T-cells (Treg) with IL-10 and/or TGF-beta is decisive for the success of an ASIT. A prerequisite for achieving immunologic tolerance is that sufficiently high amounts of the individual allergen components are present in the allergen extract used. This is true for all forms of application of allergens. Chemically or genetically modified allergens, which will not be recognized by the existing IgE antibodies, can be utilized to attain the high doses required.