Figure 3: Immunologic changes during food immunotherapy
Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a long-term process. At baseline,
individuals with food allergies have effector cells that are reactive to
allergens, mounting an allergic response upon above-threshold exposure.
During the early phase (days to weeks) of AIT, the threshold of effector
cell activation (basophil) increases, resulting in desensitization.
Continuation of controlled allergen exposure, result in the generation
of regulatory cells that produce tolerogenic IL-10, as well as the
increased production of allergen specific IgG4 and IgA with slow
reduction of allergen-specific IgE (months-years). Treatment response
can be monitored by immunotherapy biomarkers including reduction in skin
prick test (SPT) and basophil activation test (BAT) results as well as
changes in immune cell frequency and humoral response.