title: Immune and clinical response to honeybee venom in beekeepers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess immune response to honeybee venom in relation to the degree of exposure, time after a sting and clinical symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four volunteers were divided into 2 groups: beekeepers and a control group. The serum levels of total IgE (tIgE), bee venom-specific IgE (venom sIgE), phospholipase A2-specific IgE (phospholipase A2 sIgE), tryptase and venom-specific IgG4 (venom sIgG4) were determined. In beekeepers, diagnostic tests were performed within 3 hours following a sting and were repeated after a minimum of 6 weeks from the last sting. In individuals from the control group, the tests were performed only once, without a sting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tests showed significant differences in venom sIgE (beekeepers' median = 0.34 kUA/l, control group median = 0.29 kUA/l), baseline serum tryptase (beekeepers' median = 4.25 µg/l, control group median = 2.74 µg/l) and sIgG4 (beekeepers' median = 21.2 mgA/l, control group median = 0.14 mgA/l), confirming higher levels of the tested substances in the beekeepers than in the control group. A significant positive correlation was observed between phospholipase A2 sIgE concentration and severity of clinical symptoms after a sting in the group of beekeepers. It was also demonstrated that the clinical symptoms after a sting became less severe with increasing age of the beekeepers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences in the immune response to a bee sting between the beekeepers and individuals not exposed to bees were probably due to the high exposure of the beekeepers to honeybee venom allergens. This may suggest a different approach to the bee venom allergy diagnostic tests in this occupational group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matysiak
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty, Higher Vocational, State School in Kalisz, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matysiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pneumonology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology K. Jonscher Clinical Hospital in Poznań, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bręborowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pneumonology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology K. Jonscher Clinical Hospital in Poznań, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Zdzisława
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kycler
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dereziński
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Zenon J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Kokot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D056630:Beekeeping; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011044:Poland; D013997:Time Factors; D053802:Tryptases / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D053802:Tryptases