T-cell responses during allergen-specific immunotherapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only specific, dose-dependent and time-dependent and disease-modifying strategy for the treatment of allergy associated with clinical improvement and biological tolerance which may persist years after discontinuation. RECENT FINDINGS: Successful immunotherapy in respiratory allergy is associated with the immunodeviation of Th2 response to a more protective allergen-specific Th1 cells and with the induction of interleukin-10 (IL-10)/transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-producing T regulatory cells in blood and inflamed airways. Subcutaneous treatment and sublingual treatments induce similar alterations which are dose-dependent and time-dependent. SUMMARY: This study provides an update on the immunological T-cell responses during subcutanous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy, giving a unifying view of the redirecting mechanisms and regulating mechanisms elicited by these treatments.