Table I. Effect of MCT-based birch allergen AIT on specific Abs and tolerance to a birch allergen challenge.

Readout	Number of AIT Sessions
	No AIT	3	5	5-incra
IgE	857	1183	1284	1256
IgG1 (× 105)	10.9	10.3	21.4	18.9
IgG2a (× 103)	1.7	9.3	15.4	16.9
Hypothermia, AUCb	1265	1292 NS	928 NS	437*

Mice (five to six per group) sensitized with birch pollen allergen extract received s.c. AIT with the same allergen adsorbed on MCT. The allergen dose of 264 μg birch pollen allergen (65.47 mcg Bet v 1) was split on three or five doses given with 14- or 7-d intervals. End point birch pollen allergen extract–specific Ab titers were analyzed by ELISA. Protection against anaphylaxis after a systemic challenge with birch pollen allergen was determined by measuring the change in body temperature upon challenge, and the temperature–time AUC was calculated with a baseline temperature of 38°C and with 4 h of assessment time.

^aThe allergen dose given was increasing for each AIT session: 10 (2.48), 20 (4.96), 40 (9.92), 84 (20.83), and 110 (27.28) mcg with regard to total protein (Bet v 1 content in parentheses).

^bAUC was calculated for time–temperature curves after challenge with birch pollen allergen extract (baseline: 38°C, test time: 4 h).

^*p < 0.01 as compared with no AIT.

NS, not significant as compared with no AIT (ANOVA).