Leukocyte inhibition factor in delayed-onset food allergy.
To investigate the possiblity of a cellular immune hypersensitivity reaction in patients who developed allergic symptoms 2 or more hours after ingestion of a particular food, two in vitro tests were employed: leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) and lymphoblastogenesis. Of the children and adults with food allergy, 73% (30 of 41) had a positive LIF test with whole cow's milk or its fractions or corn. Of nonallergic or grass-pollen sensitive controls, 15% (four of 26) had positive LIF. Lymphocyte transformation often correlated with LIF results in food-allergic patients but was also positive in 77% of controls (seven of nine). We suggest that many patients with delayed-onset food-induced allergy symptoms may have a cellular immune component to their sensitivity. Serum IgA, where measured, was absent or low in half of these patients.
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D007961:Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D003313:Zea mays / Q000009:adverse effects
D002364:Caseins; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D007961:Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D007768:Lactalbumin