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.