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The goal of allergen‐specific immunotherapy is the induction of protective immune responses in the absence of anaphylactic reactions. We have previously shown that Fel d 1, the major cat allergen, displayed in a repetitive fashion on virus‐like particles (VLPs) may fulfill these criteria. Specifically, Fel d 1 on VLPs induced strongly increased protective IgG responses compared to free allergen in mice while anaphylactic reactions were essentially abolished. Here we extend these findings to human mast cells and offer a mechanistic explanation for the reduced anaphylactic activity.

We differentiated human mast cells in vitro from blood‐derived stem cell progenitors and sensitized the cells with a monoclonal Fel d 1‐specific IgE. We compared the capability of Fel d 1 to induce mast cell activation in its free form versus displayed on VLPs and we performed allergen binding studies by surface …