Immunotherapy with Fel d 1 peptides decreases IL-4 release by peripheral blood T cells of patients allergic to cats

Abstract

Background: Cells producing a T h2 -cytokine profile play an important role in the onset and maintenance of atopic diseases, and therefore specific immunotherapy is aimed to induce a switch to cells producing a T h1 - or T h0 -cytokine profile. Recently, a novel form of immunotherapy making use of synthetic peptides from the major cat allergen Fel d 1 has been developed, but its mechanisms of action are unknown. Objectives: We examined the effects of immunotherapy with Fel d 1 peptides on the response to bronchial provocation tests (PD 20 FEV 1 ) with a standardized Fel d 1 cat extract on Fel d 1–specific serum IgE and IgG levels and in vitro IL-4 and IFN-γ production. Methods: Patients allergic to cats received 6 weekly injections of 7.5 μg (low dose), 75 μg (medium dose), or 750 μg (high dose) of Fel d 1 peptides (25 patients) or a placebo (6 patients). Results: Six weeks after ending immunotherapy, posttreatment PD 20 FEV 1 was not significantly different between the treated and placebo groups. However, in the medium- and high-dose groups there was a significant improvement between baseline and posttreatment days. IL-4 release was significantly reduced in the high dose–treated group (P < .005, Wilcoxon W test), whereas it was unchanged in the low or medium dose– and in the placebo-treated groups. In all groups, IFN-γ, IgE, and IgG levels remained unchanged. Conclusion: There was no correlation between the improvement of PD 20 FEV 1 and the decrease in IL-4 production. These data suggest that peptide immunotherapy may act by shifting the Fel d 1–induced response of PBMCs in vitro from the T h2 -like to the T h0 -like phenotype. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;102:571-8.)