S. Gabrielsson et al., INCREASED ALLERGEN-SPECIFIC TH2 RESPONSES IN-VITRO IN ATOPIC SUBJECTSRECEIVING SUBCLINICAL ALLERGEN CHALLENGE, Allergy, 52(8), 1997, pp. 860-865
The study aimed to determine whether inhalation of subclinical allerge
n doses leads to a shift in the balance between T helper (Th) 1 and Th
2 cells in asthmatic patients. Elevated IgE requires allergen-specific
T cells producing cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 or IL-13. Inte
rferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) produced by Th1 cells counteracts the effects
of IL-4. In nature, allergic persons are often exposed to low levels
of allergen, leading to hyperreactivity, but not to acute allergic rea
ctions. In this study, nine allergic persons inhaled low doses of alle
rgen or placebo in a double-blind manner over seven consecutive weekda
ys. During the study, the bronchial responsiveness to histamine challe
nge increased, but no subject exhibited asthmatic symptoms. Blood was
drawn on days 0, 1, 4, and 9, and the number of IL-4-and IFN-gamma-pro
ducing cells was measured by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay
after in vitro stimulation with a low-dose phytohemagglutinin (PHA) mi
xed with the relevant allergen or with PHA alone. In three of the four
subjects receiving allergen, the IL-4/IFN-gamma ratio increased durin
g the time of the study. No increase was seen in the placebo Stockholm
University group. No increase was seen in serum IgE levels in any of
the groups. We stockholm conclude that a shift in the balance between
Th1 and Th2 cells can be detected in subjects exposed to subclinical a
llergen doses.