[Polyclonal T lymphocyte proliferation in drug lymphocyte activation test].
BACKGROUND
We examined the clonality of the specific T cell reaction activated with specific drug antigens in patients with a positive lymphocyte activation test.


METHODS
Ten patients were investigated. Their clinical features suggested drug allergy. Six weeks after a skin reaction, skin tests and lymphocyte activation tests were run. For each lymphocyte activation test, we explored the clonality of the T cell proliferation by examining the VJ rearrangement of the TCR gamma locus using polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.


RESULTS
All samples gave positive lymphocyte activation tests proving in vitro polyclonal T cell proliferation in reaction to a drug. There was no difference in clonality between the pilot lymphocyte activation test and the lymphocyte activation test after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin or with the drug antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that in vitro T cell proliferation induced by a specific drug antigen as disclosed by the lymphocyte activation test is a polyclonal or oligoclonal cell proliferation. This lack of production of a preferential T clone in a T cell-mediated immune drug reaction implies that many T lymphocytes can recognize the antigen and be stimulated by the same drug.
Martin
S
S
Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Fournier, 36 quai de la bataille, 54000 Nancy.
Barbaud
A
A
Schmutz
J L
JL
Gobert
B
B
Faure
G
G
Bene
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes