Mohamed H. Shamji, PhD: Biomarkers for Allergen Immunotherapy Response

In an interview with HCPLive, Mohamed H. Shamji, PhD, discussed the major talking points covered in his presentation at The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) 2023 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

Shamji is known for his work as a professor of immunology and allergy at Imperial College London, specifically on respiratory allergies and the ways in which disease-modifying treatments affect immunologic responses

He described the most important takeaways from his presentation during his interview with HCPLive, exploring responses to allergen immunotherapy (AIT).

Although use of AIT is common, there are few known biomarkers available to indicate patients’ responses.

Shamji began by stating that for patients with immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated diseases, allergen immunotherapy can be highly effective, particularly for those with allergic rhinitis with and without asthma.

“Now one of the challenges we face in our specialty…is that it is very difficult to identify those patients who are unlikely to respond to treatment,” he explained. “So it's very important that we develop biomarkers that allow us to give immunotherapy, so that it can be very, very effective and, secondly, to ensure that those patients actually also understand that there is a biomarker and there's a change in the immune response.”

The use of the multiomics approach on clinical studies evaluating AIT was found to have led to new information on the mechanisms that mediate tolerance to the treatment.

Shamji explained that in the desensitization phase, there is a “reduction of mast cells and basophils reactivity to desensitize allergen and it's it's very important for the cells to be modulated, particularly because they're the ones that produce histamine and tryptase and whatnot in the context of the triggers that that provide us with the early phase reactions to allergy the symptoms of sneezing, itching, rhinorrhea.”

He also explained a bit about his team’s work in the field at Imperial College London, adding that their aim is understanding the underpinning mechanisms of the subject.

To learn more about Shamji’s AAAAI conference presentation, view the interview above.