THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE IS SUBJECT TO INDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY AT ALL LEVELS

All the components of the immune system involved in recognition and me mory and in the nature, vigour and distribution of responses to antige nic challenge may be affected by the genotype and phenotype of the exp osed person. They are likely to be greatly influenced by the individua l genotype as well as by phenotype effects, and so are likely to vary greatly between individuals, depending on constitutional factors and o n any previous exposure of the individual. Although immune responses d o follow conventional types of dose-response relationship, the end eff ect is greatly modified by prior sensitisation. There is a considerabl e range of individual responses in conditions involving the immune sys tem, as is well shown in the variability of the common immunological d isorders of asthma and contact dermatitis, although strong sensitisers map be able to overcome much of the difference in the responsitivity of the individual.