Year-round treatment initiation for a 6-grasses pollen allergoid in specific immunotherapy of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma

Peptide immunotherapy for aeroallergens

Background: Allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT) has been used for more than a century. Researchers have been working to improve efficacy and reduce the side effects. Objective: We have reviewed the literature about peptides immunotherapy for inhaled allergens. The mechanism of SIT is to induce regulatory T (Treg) cells and to reduce T helper (Th)2 cells to induce class switching from IgE to IgG and induce blocking antibodies to inhibit allergen binding of IgE. Methods: The relevant published literatures on the peptide SIT for aeroallergens have been searched on the medline. Results: Modification of allergens and routes of treatment has been performed. Among them, many researchers were interested in peptide immunotherapy. T-cell epitope peptide has no IgE epitope, that is able to bind IgE, but rather induces Treg and reduces Th2 cells, which was considered an ideal therapy. Results from cellular and animal model studies have been successful. However, in clinical studies, T-cell peptide immunotherapy has failed to show efficacy and caused side effects, because of the high effective rate of placebo and the development of IgE against T-cell epitope peptides. Currently, the modifications of IgE-allergen binding by blocking antibodies are considered for successful allergen immunotherapy. Conclusion: Newly developed hypoallergenic B cell epitope peptides and computational identification methods hold great potential to develop new peptide immunotherapies.

Allergen immunotherapy: progress and future outlook

INTRODUCTION

Allergy, the immunological hypersensitivity to innocuous environmental compounds, is a global health problem. The disease triggers, allergens, are mostly proteins contained in various natural sources such as plant pollen, animal dander, dust mites, foods, fungi and insect venoms. Allergies can manifest with a wide range of symptoms in various organs, and be anything from just tedious to life-threatening. A majority of all allergy patients are self-treated with symptom-relieving medicines, while allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only causative treatment option.

AREAS COVERED

This review will aim to give an overview of the state-of-the-art allergy management, including the use of new biologics and the application of biomarkers, and a special emphasis and discussion on current research trends in the field of AIT.

EXPERT OPINION

Conventional AIT has proven effective, but the years-long treatment compromises patient compliance. Moreover, AIT is typically not offered in food allergy. Hence, there is a need for new, effective and safe AIT methods. Novel routes of administration (e.g. oral and intralymphatic), hypoallergenic AIT products and more effective adjuvants holds great promise. Most recently, the development of allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies for passive immunotherapy may also allow treatment of patients currently not treated or treatable.

Allergen Immunotherapy: Current and Future Trends

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the sole disease-modifying treatment for allergic rhinitis; it prevents rhinitis from progressing to asthma and lowers medication use. AIT against mites, insect venom, and certain kinds of pollen is effective. The mechanism of action of AIT is based on inducing immunological tolerance characterized by increased IL-10, TGF-β, and IgG4 levels and Treg cell counts. However, AIT requires prolonged schemes of administration and is sometimes associated with adverse reactions. Over the last decade, novel forms of AIT have been developed, focused on better allergen identification, structural modifications to preserve epitopes for B or T cells, post-traductional alteration through chemical processes, and the addition of adjuvants. These modified allergens induce clinical-immunological effects similar to those mentioned above, increasing the tolerance to other related allergens but with fewer side effects. Clinical studies have shown that molecular AIT is efficient in treating grass and birch allergies. This article reviews the possibility of a new AIT to improve the treatment of allergic illness.