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Allergen immunotherapy is allergen‐specific, allergen dose‐ and time‐dependent and is associated with long‐term clinical and immunological tolerance that persists for years after discontinuation. Successful immunotherapy is accompanied by the suppression of numbers of T‐helper 2 (Th2) effector cells, eosinophils, basophils, c‐kit+mast cells and neutrophils infiltration in target organs, induction of IL‐10 and/or TGF‐β+Treg cells and increases in ‘protective’ non‐inflammatory blocking antibodies, particularly IgG4 and IgA2 subclasses with inhibitory activity. These events are accompanied by a reduction and/or a redirection of underlying antigen‐specific Th2‐type T cell‐driven hypersensitivity to the allergen(s) used for therapy. This suppression occurs within weeks or months as a consequence of the appearance of a population of regulatory T cells that exert their effects by mechanisms involving cell–cell contact …