Molecular mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy for atopic diseases.

Increasing prevalence of atopic diseases has become a major problem in most developing and developed countries. In the past several years, most of our studies have focused on the regulatory mechanisms of immunotherapy and exploration of novel treatment for childhood asthma, including the regulation of type 1 (TH1) and type 2 (TH2) cells, the change of cytokines and chemokines during immunotherapy and also possible novel approaches to immunotherapy in childhood atopic diseases. With further characterization of mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases and immunological changes during immunotherapy, it may shed light on designing the novel treatments for atopic diseases. The data further suggested advanced immunotherapy with combined allergen and certain stimulators enhancing TH1 activity or allergen gene immunization might contribute to more efficient immunotherapy in the future.