IMMUNOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING IMMUNOTHERAPY IN ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN - INCREASED IL-13 AND ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC IGG4 ANTIBODY-LEVELS

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma, allerg ic rhinitis, and atopic diseases has increased in recent years. Immuno therapy with allergens is a treatment documented to have an effect on regulating cytokine production and allergen-specific antibody producti on. Objective: The aim of this study was to further investigate immuno logic changes during immunotherapy and to explore the possible more ef ficient approach of immunotherapy. Methods: Asthmatic children receivi ng house dust mite immunotherapy were followed to learn immunologic pa rameters such as allergen-specific antibody levels, proliferative resp onse of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and cytokine change during immunotherapy. Results: The data suggested (1) IgG4 anti-mite antibod y increased 8 months after immunotherapy while IgE antibody level rema ined the same; (2) allergen-induced, in vitro production of certain cy tokines such as IL-4 and IL-10 decreased after immunotherapy; (3) IL-1 3 (which can induce IgG4 and IgE antibody production by B cells) incre ased after immunotherapy. Conclusion: Although this needs more study, IL-13 might play an important role in the generation of IgG4-blocking antibody during immunotherapy.