Immune response instrument

For the effects of this instrument, an allergen means any product intended to identify or to induce a specific acquired alteration in the immune response to an allergen. 

If cytokines are themselves instrumental in regulating the development of differentiated Th-cell populations, then an intriguing question arises as to the provenance of these cytokines before a mature immune response has evolved. In the case of Thl-cell development then presumably the stimulation by dendritic cell- and/or macrophage-derived IL-12 of IFN-y production by NK cells and the concerted action of IL-12 and IFN-yon Thl-cell precursors may provide one answer. One suggestion regarding the evolution of Th2-cell... 

The primary alternative to the instrumental methods summarized above is immunodetection of EA with specific antibodies. Antiserum raised in response to immunization with lysergol (6a) coupled to human serum albumin recognizes several EA (100). Used for competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), this broad-spectrum antiserum allows rapid detection of total EA in many samples concurrently. However, it does not separately quantify the different EA that contribute to the profile, and different EA show different reactivities to the antiserum. Monoclonal antibodies specific for individual EA species, such as ergotamine, also have been raised and provide an effective means for detection and quantification of the particular EA, as well as a valuable tool for physiological studies (101). 

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