During recent years, a great deal of research has focused on the identification of food
allergens, their characterization at the molecular level, and the investigation of immunological mechanisms responsible for
food hypersensitivity.
Allergen-reactive T-helper 2 cells play a central role in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases. After activation with
allergens, this subset of CD4(+) T-lymphocytes produces a spectrum of
cytokines that induce high serum levels of
immunoglobulin E and
eosinophilia, which, in turn, mediate the clinical symptoms. Furthermore, T-helper 2 cells are present in target organs during the late response to
allergen exposure. The analysis of the allergic T-cell response, including
cytokine production and the identification of
T-cell epitopes, provides important information on the characteristics of food
allergens. Therefore, in vitro cultures of
allergen-specific T-cells derived from peripheral blood or different target organs have been of indispensable help. Results obtained from such studies may not only contribute to the understanding of cellular mechanisms underlying different types of
food allergy but also to the development of novel strategies for
immunotherapy of
food allergy.