Mice (Balb/c), with peanut allergy induced, were subjected to desensitization therapy with the use of pea protein extract (PE) or isolated globulin fractions: legumin (PL) and vicilin (PV). B- and T-cell responses to peanut proteins were analysed by determination of the IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a antibody levels in plasma and the concentration of IL-4, IFN-gamma and IL-10 cytokines secreted by isolated splenocytes.Conducted studies have demonstrated that immunotherapy with proteins resulted in the decrease of total IgE and peanut-specific IgG1 levels and significantly enhanced synthesis of peanut-specific IgG2a in plasma (ELISA method) and at the cellular level (ELISPOT type B). A successful and effective immunotherapy is related to the shift in profile of lymphocytes from Th2 subpopulation towards Th1 subpopulation. In our studies significant increase in the activity of Th1 lymphocytes was observed in groups desensitized with pea protein extracts (PE) and pea legumin fraction (PL). In these groups, significant statistic decrease in IL-4 secreted and increase in IL-10 level were found.Desensitization method with the use of pea proteins being suggested in the presented studies can be an alternative method for specific immunotherapy for people, especially with strong allergic reaction to peanuts; however, this method needs further studies with mouse model
