GENERATION OF SULPHIDOPEPTIDELEUKOTRIENES FROM MIXED LEUKOCYTE SUSPENSIONS IN HYMENOPTERA-VENOM ALLERGY

16 patients with systemic reactions to Hymenoptera venom (HV), 56 subj ects with mild local reactions to Hymenoptera-sting and 12 subjects wi th negative history for Hymenoptera-sting were included in this study. Leukocytes from subjects in study were stimulated ''in vitro'' by HV in the presence of interleukin-3. The sulphidopeptideleukotrienes (sLT ) release, respectively with and without HV stimulation, was quantifie d by an ELISA test based on a monoclonal antibody which recognized leu kotriene C4 (LTC4) and its metabolites LTD4 and LTE4. All reagents req uired for preparation, priming and stimulation of leukocytes, were inc luded in the cellular allergen stimulation test (CAST) ELISA system ki t. The median values of sLTs, expressed as pg/ml, were higher in patie nts with systemic reactions than in subjects with mild local reactions (Mann-Whitney U test: P = 0.01 for bee venom; P = 0.047 for wasp veno m). The levels of sLTs were equivalent in healthy controls and subject s who received Hymenoptera sting without immediate hyper-sensitivity r eactions. There was a significant correlation between CAST results and the skin wheal area, as well as HV-specific serum IgE. No correlation between the clinical manifestations of the patients and sLT levels wa s observed (Fund. Clin. Immunol. 3: 157-162, 1995).