T cell response to grass pollen allergens: correlation with skin test reactivity and serum IgE levels.
T cell proliferative responses to rye and Bermuda grass pollen allergens have been studied in a series of 51 atopic and 18 non-atopic subjects. Mean T cell responses were higher in the atopic group than in the non-atopic group (P < 0.001), and there was a strong correlation between the magnitude of reaction in the T cell assay and in the skin test (rye P < 0.01, Bermuda P < 0.05). A similar association was shown between T cell reactivity and serum levels of allergen-specific IgE (rye P < 0.05, Bermuda P < 0.05), but no relationship was found between serum allergen-specific IgG levels and any other parameter studied. T cell reactivity was not found in three cord blood samples tested. Discordance between positivity for T cell responses and skin test reactions in some cases might reflect reactivity by T cell subsets that promote IgG antibody or cell-mediated responses without IgE antibody production. A precise knowledge of T cell recognition of grass pollen allergens will provide exciting new prospects for more effective and safer immunotherapy strategies for allergic diseases including asthma.
Blaher
B
B
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
McCluskey
J
J
Puy
R
R
Czarny
D
D
Rolland
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E