Mechanisms of Subcutaneous and Sublingual Aeroallergen Immunotherapy: What Is New?

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2020 Feb;40(1):1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2019.09.009. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Abstract

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is considered to be the only treatment option with the promise of healing and induction of long-lasting allergen tolerance, persisting even after discontinuation of therapy. Despite a more than 100-year-long history, still only a minority of patients are being treated with AIT. Substantial developments took place in the last decade to overcome problems in standardization, efficacy, safety, high costs, long duration of treatment; and new guidelines have also been implemented. Major advancements in the understanding of AIT mechanisms with the focus on recent findings of subcutaneous and sublingual AIT have been summarized.

Keywords: Aeroallergen; Allergen immunotherapy; Allergy; Breg cells; Innate lymphoid cells; Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy; Sublingual allergen immunotherapy; Treg cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Sublingual
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Desensitization, Immunologic / economics
  • Desensitization, Immunologic / trends*
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity / therapy*
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Particulate Matter / immunology
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Reference Standards
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Particulate Matter