Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy: II. T proliferative and T suppressive activities induced by Vespula immunotherapy: Effects on long-term antibody responses

Abstract

Thirty-five children who had exhibited major clinical reactions to yellow jacket stings were desensitized during an 8-day rush immunotherapy (RIT). Maintenance treatment was continued for at least 1 year in all cases and for 2 years in 21 cases. Blood samples, obtained before, during, and after RIT, were analyzed for specific T proliferative (TP) and T suppressive (TS) cell activities and for specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG4 levels. TS and TP cell activities increased during RIT ( p < 0.001) and remained elevated throughout the 2-year follow-up. There were transient rises in specific IgG1 and IgE during RIT, but the levels of both decreased thereafter. Specific IgG4 increased throughout the follow-up period. The data indicate that the levels of specific IgE and specific IgG1 were correlated with TP cell responses (inducers) and TS cells responses (suppressors) and therefore might be controlled by them; data also suggest that TS cell responses should play a role in the IgG4 response. These changes in TS and TP cell responses and antibody responses have been incorporated into a model of antibody-response regulation by cell-mediated immunity in this type of allergy.