Early gene expression changes in peripheral blood leukocytes with rush immunotherapy

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from ficoll gradients of whole blood and immediately processed for total RNA and stored at -80oC until use. Blood was from allergic patients at different timepoints pre or post immunotherapy (RIT). Gene expression was compared for the different timepoints. Blood samples were collected from allergic patients before or after rush immunotherapy (RIT), total RNA was prepared and gene expression assessed by Illumina. Samples were collected pre-rush or at 1 week, 7 weeks, 4 months (and for one patient 5 months) after beginning rush immunotherapy. Blood was taken at each timepoint prior to the patient receiving immunotherapy at each timepoint.