PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC DISEASE BY TARGETED DEVELOPMENT OF PROTECTIVE T-HELPER LYMPHOCYTE IMMUNITY

摘要

A composition for preventing and treating allergic diseases in particular organs. Selected antigens which induce primarily or exclusively a type Th1 immune response are applied to one or more target organs to induce a type Th1 immune response therein. The induced Th1 immune response endures to pre-empt the later occurrence of allergic Th2 type immune responses in the organ to prevent allergic disease, or ameliorate the ongoing allergic Th2 type immune response in previously diseased organs to treat the allergy. Various preferred antigen sources and modes of administration are disclosed. There is also disclosed a method and composition for preventing and treating diseases associated with abnormally elevated Th1 type immune response by inducing a protective, pre-emptive therapeutic type Th2 immune response.