Vaccination with genetically engineered allergens prevents progression of allergic disease

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0404735101
• Publication Date: 2004-08-14T01:32:56Z
• Authors: V. Niederberger; F. Horak; S. Vrtala; S. Spitzauer; M.-T. Krauth; P. Valent; J. Reisinger; M. Pelzmann; B. Hayek; M. Kronqvist; G. Gafvelin; H. Grönlund; A. Purohit; R. Suck; H. Fiebig; O. Cromwell; G. Pauli; M. van Hage-Hamsten; R. Valenta
• Keywords: Hypersensitivity, Immediate; 0301 basic medicine; Vaccines; Vaccines, Synthetic; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Allergens; Cross Reactions; Immunoglobulin E; Protein Engineering; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Double-Blind Method; Food; Immunoglobulin G; Humans; Pollen; Seasons; Immunologic Memory; Betula; Plant Proteins

IgE-mediated allergy affects >25% of the population in industrialized countries. Repeated contact with the disease-eliciting allergens induces rises of allergen-specific IgE Abs and progression of the disease to more severe manifestations. Our study uses a type of vaccine that is based on genetically modified allergen derivatives to treat allergic patients. We developed hypoallergenic derivatives of the major birch pollen allergen, Bet v 1, by genetic engineering and vaccinated birch pollen-allergic patients ( n = 124) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Active treatment induced protective IgG Abs that inhibited allergen-induced release of inflammatory mediators. We also observed a reduction of cutaneous sensitivity as well as an improvement of symptoms in actively treated patients. Most important, rises of allergen-specific IgE induced by seasonal birch pollen exposure were significantly reduced in vaccinated patients. Vaccination with genetically engineered allergen derivatives is a therapy for allergy that not only ameliorates allergic reactions but also reduces the IgE production underlying the disease.