Immune mechanisms of oral immunotherapy

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 141; no. 2; pp. 491 - 498
• Main Authors: Kulis, Michael D., Patil, Sarita U., Wambre, Erik, Vickery, Brian P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2018; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Allergens; Allergens - immunology; Allergens - therapeutic use; antibodies; Antigens; B cells; basophils; Clinical trials; desensitization; Desensitization (Psychology); Desensitization, Immunologic - methods; Food allergies; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Food Hypersensitivity - pathology; Food Hypersensitivity - therapy; Humans; immune mechanisms; Immune response; Immunoglobulins; Immunotherapy; mast cells; Oral immunotherapy; Rostrum; sustained unresponsiveness; T cells; sIgE; SU; TH2A; immune mechanisms; Treg; basophils; B cells; T cells; mast cells; Oral immunotherapy; desensitization; SPT; sustained unresponsiveness; antibodies; OIT; Foxp3
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.12.979

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has demonstrated reproducibly successful desensitization in patients with food allergy completing clinical trials and, in some studies, sustained unresponsiveness. These clinical outcomes have been associated with characteristic modifications in the allergen-specific immune response, but a detailed synthesis of OIT's mechanisms of action is lacking. In this rostrum we review the current evidence regarding the human immune response to OIT, explore possible mechanisms, and identify knowledge gaps for future research.