The Use of Adjuvants for Enhancing Allergen Immunotherapy Efficacy

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2016 Feb;36(1):125-45. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2015.08.009.

Abstract

One key approach to increase the efficacy and the safety of immunotherapy is the use of adjuvants. However, many of the adjuvants currently in use can cause adverse events, raising concerns regarding their clinical use, and are geared toward productive immune responses but not necessarily tolerogenic responses. Thus, novel adjuvants for immunotherapy are needed and are being developed. Essential is their potential to boost appropriate tolerogenic adaptive immune responses to allergens while limiting side effects. This review provides an overview of adjuvants currently in clinical use or under development and discusses their therapeutic effect in enhancing allergen-induced tolerance.

Keywords: Adjuvants; Allergen-specific immunotherapy; Immune tolerance.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use*
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Desensitization, Immunologic*
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity / therapy*
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunomodulation
  • Th1-Th2 Balance

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Allergens