Resumen de Allergen-specific immunotherapy: Update on immunological mechanisms

M. Álvaro Lozano, Juan Sancha Pacheco, H. Larramona, J.M Lucas, María Mesa del Castillo Payá, Ana Isabel Tabar Purroy, Ana Martínez-Cañavate Burgos

• Immunotherapy selectively modulates the allergen-specific immune response. It involves the gradual administration of increasing amounts of allergen for the purpose of inducing protective immunological changes and it is the only curative approach for specific type I allergy.

  Aim Description of the allergic inflammation.

  Comprehension of the early cellular changes after specific immunotherapy has been initiated.

  Exposure of the mechanisms involved in tolerance induction by regulatory T cells (Treg) with the inhibition of the Th2 responses. Comprehension of IL-10 and transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) roles.

  Explanation of specific IgE, IgG and IgA changes.

  Description of the suppression of inflammatory responses during immunotherapy.