Molecular approaches to the development of drugs for AIT: peculiarities of the immune tolerance induction; [Молекулярные подходы к созданию препаратов для АСИТ: особенности индукции иммунной толерантности]

More than 30 % of the world’s inhabitants suffer from allergies. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is considered to be the only pathogenetic method of allergy treatment that can provide a long-term effect. This method involves regular administration of therapeutic allergens or allergy vaccines to reduce the severity of clinical manifestations of allergy by inducing immune tolerance to the target allergen. However, AIT has disadvantages: low quality of preparations of therapeutic antigens and allergy vaccines based on them, the risk of side effects, and the duration of the course of treatment. For more than a century of AIT use, significant progress has been made in the development of new immunotherapy technologies and in the study of allergy mechanisms. The molecular approach to the development of allergy vaccines is becoming increasingly popular. It makes it possible to improve their safety, efficacy and standardize the production process. In this review, the main stages of AIT development and various technologies for the development of therapeutic allergen preparations and allergy vaccines are discussed. Special attention is paid to modern molecular methods of immunotherapy. Current understanding of the pathogenesis of allergy and mechanisms of AIT are also summarized. © Коллектив авторов, 2024.