Changes in Adaptive Immune Responses and Effector Cell Responses Upon Nasal Allergen Exposure - a Pilot Study

Detailed Summary

IgE-associated allergy is a hypersensitivity disease affecting more than 25% of the population in industrialised countries. The recognition of allergen by immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays a central role in the cause of allergic diseases. Both seasonal and nasal provocation studies have demonstrated the rise in specific IgE after allergen exposure. Additionally changes in other clinical and immunological parameters (e.g. nasal blockage, mast cell and basophil sensitivity, various cytokines or T cell profiles) in response to allergen exposure have been described. However the time sensitive interplay of these various factors such as the relationship between rise in IgE levels and change in basophils sensitivity or cytokine profiles is not yet fully understood. Clarifying how these various factors interact and contribute to immunological responses to allergen, is crucial for the development of new therapeutic approaches. The investigators aim to address these questions through a study following 36 Birch allergic patients after provocation with allergen or placebo over a peroid of 6 weeks to 1 year.

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