Humoral and cellular immunity in asthma*1

Influence of Serum from Atopic Children on T Lymphocytes

“…A possible explanation for the excessive production of IgE might be defective regu latory T cell influences on the activity of IgE-producing B cells. Some support for this hypothesis can be derived from studies showing that atopic individuals have low re lative proportions of circulating T cells [Luckasen, 1974;Gottlieb and Hanifin, 1974;Schöpf, 1974;Andersen and Hjorth, 1975;Strannegärd et al, 1976] and that the T cells are hyporeactive [Grove et al, 1975;Hovmark, 1975;Strannegärd et al, 1976]. In the present study the finding of low rela tive T cell numbers in atopic children was corroborated and, in addition, the absolute T cell numbers were found to be significant ly decreased.…”

“…It has recently been shown that lympho cytes from individuals with asthma, atopic eczema or rhinoconjunctivitis have a de creased responsiveness to stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and purified protein derivative (PPD) [Andersen and Hjorth, 1975;Grove et al, 1975;Hovmark, 1975;Strannegârd et al 1975Strannegârd et al , 1976. These findings are con cordant with the earlier demonstration of decreased cell-mediated immunity, mea sured as delayed hypersensitivity, in patients with atopic disease [Palacios et al, 1966;Lobitz et al, 1972], In addition to the de creased mitogenic responsiveness of lym phocytes from atopic individuals, a signifi cant decrease in relative and absolute num bers of circulating thymus-dcrivcd (T) cells has been observed in such individuals [Luckasen et al, 1974;Gottlieb and Hanifin, 1974;McGeady and Buckley, 1974;Strannegârd et al, 1976;Carapeto et al, 1976].…”

T Lymphocytes in Atopic Children

“…Thus, there have been reports of depressed cell-mediated im munity in patients with atopic eczema [11,16] and eczema is a part of the Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome, which is accompanied by decreased hu moral as well as cell-mediated immunity [1], Recently, it has been dem onstrated that patients with atopic eczema have decreased numbers of ciculating rosette-forming T cells [12,17,19], although others have found this not to be the case [7].…”

Suppressor Cell Function in Respiratory Allergy

“…The two options certainly do not appear to be mutually exclusive, and in fact suggest that a positive feedback mecha nism is operative. Several studies have shown depressed T lymphocyte numbers [7][8][9][10] and function [11][12][13] which corre late inversely with IgE levels. On the other hand, increased IgE production would be allowed by a decreased suppressor cell pop ulation which in turn would contribute to decreased total T cell functions.…”