Study of Adjuvant Immunotherapy for Allergic Diseases

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K09360
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Nippon Medical School
• Principal Investigator: OKUBO KIMIHIRO 日本医科大学, 大学院医学研究科, 大学院教授 (10213654)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: スギ花粉症 / アレルゲン免疫療法 / バイオマーカー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis is characterized by the fact that, unlike drug therapy, its effects persist even after treatment is stopped. We found that the post-treatment mechanism of this effect is analogous to the balance of specific IgE and specific IgG4 antibody production. In sublingual immunotherapy for cedar pollinosis, we found that IgE decreased to the same level as placebo at the end of treatment, whereas IgG4 increased after treatment, and IgG4 production continued to increase in response to cedar pollen dispersal. In addition, the higher the level of Il-10 among serum cytokines before sublingual immunotherapy, the more IgG4 remained elevated.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科頭頸部外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

アレルゲン免疫療法の特徴である後効果に関しての基礎的な検討は少ない。我々はこの後効果発現機序を特異的IgE、特異的IgG4抗体産生のバランスにより類推できることを見出した。これによりアレルゲン免疫療法を実施する患者の抗原特異的IgE、IgG4産生の追跡により、その患者が治療を止めた後も、どの程度治療後効果が継続できるか類推可能となる。このことにより治療継続期間、後効果の継続程度で医療資源の減少を導き、医療費の削減できる可能性を示唆した。