The in vivo and in vitro responses to
ragweed antigen E were evaluated in 28 untreated atopic patients with ragweed
hayfever. The methods employed included direct skin testing, measurement of total serum
IgE, measurement of specific
IgE anti-ragweed
antibodies, leukocyte histamine release, lymphocyte transformation, and release of
lymphocyte mediators (migration inhibitory factor and mitogenic factor). The patients could be divided into sensitive and insensitive groups on the basis of their in vitro reactivity to
antigen E. 20 patients in the sensitive group had statistically higher levels of total serum
IgE, higher levels of specific
IgE anti-ragweed
antibodies, and greater leukocyte sensitivity as measured by
antigen-induced histamine release than did eight patients in the insensitive group. Lymphocytes from sensitive patients produced greater amounts of migration inhibitory factor and mitogenic factor when challenged by
antigen E than did lymphocytes from insensitive patients. A possible role for the lymphocyte in this allergic disease is discussed. The results of this study indicate that the immune response to ragweed
antigen is complex and involves components of both immediate and
delayed hypersensitivity.