T cell responses to a Dermatophagoides farinae allergen preparation in allergics and healthy controls.

We have studied possible differences between mite-allergic individuals and healthy controls in their T cell proliferation and T cell surface markers after in vitro stimulation with a Dermatophagoides farinae allergen preparation. No significant differences were found between the two groups in 3H-thymidine incorporation in T cells after 7 days in culture with allergen- and antigen-presenting cells. The frequencies of allergen-reactive T cells determined by limiting dilution were also similar in the two groups. Finally, no differences were found in surface markers on allergen-activated T cells from mite-allergic and healthy blood donors using a variety of monoclonal antibodies reactive with T cell subsets and activation antigens. Our conclusion is that with the D. farinae preparation employed in this investigation and using T cells prepared from peripheral blood no significant differences were seen between mite allergics and controls.