Blocking antibody is generated in allergic rhinitis patients during specific immunotherapy using standardized Japanese cedar pollen extract.

BACKGROUND: Japanese cedar pollen is by far the most important cause of allergic rhinitis in Japan. In this study, we assessed the induction of blocking antibody during specific immunotherapy (SIT) using a recently standardized allergen extract from Japanese cedar pollen. METHODS: Basophils from nonallergic subjects were passively sensitized with serum samples prepared from pollinosis patients before and after SIT; all patients showed good clinical efficacy. The cells were then stimulated with the standardized allergen, and histamine release was measured. In most experiments, the basophil stimulation buffer contained 1% serum. RESULTS: Pollinosis patients' sera obtained both before and after SIT showed essentially similar sensitizing capacity for basophils. Basophil degranulation in response to a relatively low concentration of pollen extract was effectively suppressed by addition of post-SIT serum samples, indicating the presence of blocking antibody. The blocking antibody was IgG, and its potency varied widely among the donor patients. CONCLUSIONS: The standardized allergen extract from Japanese cedar pollen is useful not only for clinical application in SIT, but also for testing for induction of blocking antibody during SIT.