High Dose Allergen Stimulation of T Cells from House Dust Mite-Allergic Subjects Induces Expansion of IFN-γ+ T Cells, Apoptosis of CD4+IL-4+ T Cells and T Cell Anergy

Abstract

These results show that T cell division and apoptosis contribute to the cytokine skewing to predominant IFN-gamma production by T cells observed at high allergen concentration. Thus the use of hypoallergenic T cell reactive preparations which can be given safely at higher doses than natural extracts may enhance efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy.