DIAGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF IN-VITRO T-CELL PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES TOHOUSE-DUST MITE DER-P-1 IN CHILDREN WITH DUST-MITE ALLERGY

The study aimed to investigate the possible diagnostic significance of T-cell proliferative responses to purified Der p 1, antigen in allerg ic children with and without allergic sensitization to house-dust-mite (HDM) allergens. T-cell reactivity to purified Der p 1 antigen was an alyzed in 24 children with allergic sensitization to HDM demonstrated by RAST and/or positive skin prick tests. Twelve healthy young adults and 11 children with allergic sensitizations other than HDM served as controls. Of 25 HDM-allergic patients, 16 displayed strong T-cell reac tivity to Der p 1 (stimulation indices >3): nine patients showed no T- cell proliferation despite the presence of specific IgE, and five show ed no responses despite positive skin prick test, In two patients, a w eak T-cell response to Der p 1 could be demonstrated in the absence of specific IEE and negative skin test result. The two affected subjects did not show evidence of mile allergy. No T-cell responses were obser ved in adult controls (stimulation indices <3). We conclude that the a ssessment of T-cell reactivity to Der p 1 is of little value for the d iagnosis of HDM allergy. The importance of T-cell proliferative respon ses for the study of the pathogenesis of HDM allergy remains unchallen ged.