Toll-like receptor 4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A augments SLIT

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) allergy vaccines have a good safety profile, but opinions vary on their efficacy, and treatment regimens are often lengthy.

This German study assessed the effects of the Toll-like receptor 4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL®) when combined with grass pollen SLIT. This is the first reported study of adjuvanted SLIT.

The curved leucine-rich repeat region of toll-like receptors, represented here by TLR3. Image source: Wikipedia.

Patients in the groups given SLIT containing the highest amount of MPL experienced the highest proportion of negative nasal challenge tests after 10 weeks (44-47%, vs. 20% with placebo).

These results suggest that SLIT preparations containing MPL alter the immunological response to grass antigens after 3 weeks of exposure.


Pathogen Recognition Receptors, TLRs. This video is from: Janeway's Immunobiology, 7th Edition Murphy, Travers, & Walport. Source: Garland Science.

References:

Sublingual Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy Adjuvanted with Monophosphoryl Lipid A: A Phase I/IIa Study. Pfaar O, Barth C, Jaschke C, Hörmann K, Klimek L. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2010 Oct 25;154(4):336-344.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs)