Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy: I. Induction of T cell-mediated immunity by honeybee venom immunotherapy: Relationships with specific antibody responses

The specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of 14 children allergic to honeybee venom were studied. An 8-day rush venom immunotherapy induced an increase in T proliferative ( p < 0.04) and T suppressive ( p < 0.003) cell-specific activities. Antibody variations, an increase in specific IgG4 ( p ≠ 0.05), and a decrease in specific IgE ( p < 0.01) were observed 1 year later. Initial high T suppressive cell activity prevents T proliferative cell increase during rush venom immunotherapy. High initial levels of specific IgG1 and specific IgG4 have opposing effects on the increase in T suppressive cell activity, the former being positively correlated with intensive increase ( r = 0.840; p < 0.005), the latter negatively with T suppressive cell increase ( r = −0.709; p < 0.001). These data indicate that there are interrelationships between the cell-mediated immunity and the antibody responses in honeybee allergy.