Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy (original) (raw)

The specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of I4 children allergic to honeybee venom were studied. An &day rush venom immunotherapy induced an increase in T proliferative (p < 0.04) and T suppressive (p < 0.003) cell-spec$c activities. Antibody variations, an increase in spectjic IgG4 (p f 0.0.5), and a decrease in speci$c IgE (p < O.OI) 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 IgGI and speci$c lgG4 have opposing effects on the increase in T suppressive cell activity, the former being positively correlated with intensive increase (r = 0.840; p < O.OOS), the latter negatively with T suppressive crll 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. (J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL 1989;83:563-71.) fecting at least 0.4% to 0.8%2A and perhaps up to