[Difficulties with using T lymphocyte culture as a method for diagnosing allergies to benzylpenicillin].
The activation of T lymphocytes upon antigen stimulation plays a crucial role in adverse immune responses including drug-specific hypersensitivity reactions. The helpfulness of conventional tritiated thymidine incorporation assay for penicillin allergy diagnostics is limited. Benzylpenicillin, as a reactive compound, constitutes typical example of hapten. Most of research on penicillin hypersensitivity use benzylpenicillin-albumin (BPO-HSA) conjugates. Thus in this study we describe an in vitro proliferation assay with benzylpenicillin or penicillin and autologous serum protein conjugates. Interestingly these conjugates enhanced incorporation of tritiated thymidyne, when benzylpenicillin did not exert an influence on PBMCs proliferation (correlation coefficient r = -0.0119). This so-called carrier-effect indicates that benzylpenicillin and serum globulin complexes can take part in penicillin allergy (primary immune response). Optimal secondary response is obtained when the benzylpenicillin bind the same carrier for both primary and secondary immunization. Father-proliferation assay with modification of responses to phytohaemagglutinin by benzylpenicilloilated serum protein results in significant decrease of incorporation of [3H] thymidyne. Otherwise benzylpenicillin did not modify postmitogenic proliferation of PBMCs. Our findings indicate that the use of penicillin and autologous serum protein conjugates is helpful. This study show the manner in which benzylpenicillin forms T-cell epitopes.
Zdziarski
Przemysław
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Wojskowej Stacji Sanitarno-Epidemiologicznej we Wrocławiu. pzdziarski@witi.wroc.pl
D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D010400:Penicillin G