Future advances of immunotherapy

Allergen immunotherapy, although effective, has been, to a degree, displace d by symptomatic therapy,for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. A majo r reason,for its loss of popularity is the prolonged course of the treatmen t and the occurrence of reactions, both of which are due to the reaction of the allergenic extract with IgE. Thanks to recombinant technology, the pos sibility exists of modifying the major allergens so that they have reduced reactivity with IgE. Furthermore, the recombinant allergens can be combined with immunostimulatory sequences that favor the transformation from the Th -2 phenotype characteristic of allergy to et Th, cytokine profile. Thus, re combinant technology and new understanding of wars to alter the immune resp onse to allergens promises to make allergy immunotherapy safer and more eff icient.