• 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (2) , 110-115
Abstract
To clarify the self-regulatory functions of T lymphocytes in allergic patients, the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) was studied in 35 asthmatic children with elevated serum IgE. Twelve normals were included as control. The mononuclear cells (MNC) of allergic patients produced much larger amounts of IgE than did the MNC of normals, but the capability of IgG production and blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was similar between these 2 groups. There was no difference in the proliferative response of T lymphocytes to autologous non-T cells between patients and normals, but that autoreactive T lymphocytes from normals were able to suppress the in vitro IgE biosynthesis and blastogenic response to PHA of fresh autologous MNC, whereas those from allergic patients enhanced, rather than suppressed, both immunologic phenomena. The apparent difference in the immunoregulatory properties of T lymphocytes responding in AMLR between allergic patients and normals may be used to partly explain the augmented IgE production in atopic individuals.

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