B cellular regulation of allergen tolerance during specific immunotherapy of IgE-mediated respiratory allergies

• Applicants: Dr. Christian Möbs; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Pfützner
• Subject Area: Rheumatology
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 251780135

In this project the following hypotheses will be addressed:I) During the course of specific immunotherapy (SIT), allergen-specific B cells serve as mediators of allergen tolerance by - producing allergen-blocking antibodies- secreting regulatory cytokines- and showing increased regulatory activity in the nasal mucosa.II) Different modes of allergen application (subcutaneous vs. sublingual SIT) result in distinctly different immune alterations.III) Long term allergen tolerance depends on the induction of an allergen-specific memory B cell response, which can be stimulated by allergen booster injections.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Privatdozent Dr. Adam Chaker; Professor Dr. Marc Ehlers; Professorin Dr. Nina Timmesfeld