Allergic responses to airborne allergens and insect venoms

Exposure to environmental allergens leads to human sensitization and disease by two different routes: inhalation (i.e., pollen allergy) and parenteral administration (i.e., insect sting anaphylaxis). In both, the pathogenesis of disease involves specific IgE antibodies and mediator release from mast cells and basophils. The relevant allergens have been characterized and found to be proteins with a molecular mass that ranges from 15,000 to 40,000 daltons. Appropriate diagnostic methods, skin testing, basophil histamine release and IgE antibody measurements (RAST), have been developed. Appropriate immunotherapy (immunization with the relevant allergens) leads to an increase in IgG (blocking) antibody. This therapy has proved to be useful in inhalational allergy and is potentially curative in parenterally induced anaphylaxis.