AI Article Synopsis

  • Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition triggered by allergens, and current treatments, while promising, often come with side effects.
  • Researchers are developing a DNA-based vaccine targeting the common allergen Der f 1, which shows potential for safer and more effective immunotherapy.
  • In studies with mice, this vaccine not only stimulated a strong immune response but also reduced airway sensitivity and inflammation in those with asthma.

Article Abstract

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory, respiratory disease caused by an abnormal reactivity against allergens. The most promising treatments for asthma are based on specific immunotherapies, but they lack efficiency and can induce deleterious side effects. Among new modalities of immunotherapy currently in development, DNA vaccination presents a promising approach, as it enables targeted immunotherapy in association with reduced allergenicity. We have developed an innovative, DNA-based vaccine against Dermatophagoides farinae 1 allergen (Der f 1), one of the allergens most commonly encountered by asthma patients in Europe. Intramuscular administration of a Der f 1-encoding plasmid formulated with the block copolymer 704 in healthy mice induced a strong humoral and cellular response with a pro-helper T cell type 1 bias. Administration of the same formulation in asthmatic mice, according to an early vaccination protocol, led to a reduction of airway hyperresponsiveness and a significant decrease in the level of inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage of Der f 1-vaccinated mice.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/hum.2012.024DOI Listing

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