Autologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent facilitated antigen binding detects IgE-blocking activity based on direct competition between allergen-specific IgE and non-IgE

Haifeng Zhong; Xuxin Lai; Jing Li; Xiaoxiong Xiao; Shi Chen; Peter Adler Würtzen

doi:10.2217/imt-2021-0150

Autologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent facilitated antigen binding detects IgE-blocking activity based on direct competition between allergen-specific IgE and non-IgE

Immunotherapy. 2021 Nov 24. doi: 10.2217/imt-2021-0150. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Haifeng Zhong¹, Xuxin Lai¹, Jing Li², Xiaoxiong Xiao³, Shi Chen⁴, Peter Adler Würtzen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Scientific Affairs, ALK A/S, Guangzhou, 510300, China.
² Department of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Guangzhou institute of Respiratory Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
³ Paediatric Department, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518101, China.
⁴ Center for Prevention and Treatment of Paediatric Asthma, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, China.
⁵ Translational research, ALK A/S, DK-2970, Horsholm, Denmark.

PMID: 34816749
DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0150

Abstract

Aim: To measure IgE-blocking activity induced by allergen immunotherapy (AIT) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent facilitated antigen binding (ELIFAB) assay based on autologous immunoglobulin competition. Methods: The developed ELIFAB assay was used to investigate the kinetics of IgE-blocking activity in 87 patients at multiple AIT treatment time points, in comparison to the changes in IgG₄. Results: High ELIFAB response was observed until 2.5 months of AIT, then significantly decreased after 4 months and remained suppressed during the 3-year AIT period. After treatment cessation, the ELIFAB response was maintained at the level seen at the 4-6 month treatment time point, similar to IgG₄, indicating sustained IgE-blocking activity related to IgG₄. Conclusion: This ELIFAB assay measures the IgE-blocking activity for autologous allergen-specific IgE and non-IgE during and after immunotherapy. It is suited for measuring the sustained IgE-blocking activity induced by AIT.

Keywords: CD23; ELIFAB; IgE-blocking activity; allergy immunotherapy; house dust mite.

Plain language summary

Lay abstract Allergy is a serious health problem worldwide. Allergen immunotherapy is a controlled exposure to allergen with the aim of modulating the immune response and reducing symptoms. The immune modulation includes a shift from the production of allergy-inducing IgE antibodies to inhibiting IgG antibodies and the competition between these antibodies for allergen binding when exposed to allergen may be central to the effect of the treatment. The current study addressed several ways of monitoring the changes in IgE and IgG antibodies during house dust mite immunotherapy. A novel assay for monitoring the competitive binding of these antibodies to house dust mite allergen is introduced; it may be used to monitor the immunological changes induced by immunotherapy and help increase treatment compliance.