Human Hapten-Specific Lymphocytes: Biomarkers of Allergy in Man

Environmental pollutants and other chemicals may have increasing impact on the immune system of human beings. Disregulation of the immune system by chemicals may be one of the reasons why the frequency of allergies and autoimmune diseases increases. Human hapten-specific memory lymphocytes can be detected in the blood of patients with drug-induced immunologic side effects but not in similarly exposed healthy individuals.

The immune reactivity of human lymphocytes in vitro to white coloring agent—titanium dioxide (TiO₂), and mercurial conservatives thimerosal and phenylmercury—has been studied. It was found that out of 650 patients tested, 3% reacted to titanium dioxide. The percentages for phenylmercury and thimerosal were 14% and 7%, respectively. Human memory cells can be used as markers of susceptibility in future choices of appropriate additives in pharmaceutic products.