COMPOSITIONS FOR INDUCING OF IMMUNOTOLERANCE

The present invention provides methods of treating allergic disorders and compositions for use therein. The methods comprise administering an allergen and one or more medicaments. These medicaments are compounds that inhibit th e transcription of genes involved in the initiation of innate and specific immunity, thereby promoting the development of tolerance to these allergens, through inhibition of the NF-.kappa.B and/or the MAPK/AP-1 signal transducti on pathway(s). In another embodiment, the use of DNA vaccines is disclosed that incorporate a gene encoding one or more allergen sequences or fragments thereof, in combination with genes encoding proteins that inhibit the activation of the NF-.kappa.B and/or the MAPK/AP-1 pathway or in combination with small interfering RNA sequences or anti-sense sequences that inhibit th e expression of NF-.kappa.B and/or AP-1 proteins.