RESUMEN

Dietary changes expose consumers to risks from Anisakis larvae in seafood, leading to parasitic diseases and allergies. Anisakis is recognized by EFSA as a significant hazard, with potential oncogenic implications. Diagnostic advancements, like the Basophil Activation Test (BAT), enhance sensitivity and accuracy in identifying Anisakis sensitization, complementing traditional IgE tests. We conducted a cross-sectional study on patients with allergic symptoms from April 2021 to April 2023 at two outpatient clinics in western Sicily. Our goal was to assess the prevalence of Anisakis-related allergies and to identify risk profiles using specific Anisakis IgE and the BAT, especially in regions with high raw fish consumption. The study evaluated specific Anisakis IgE as a screening tool for Anisakis sensitization, using questionnaires, blood samples, and immuno-allergology analyses. Anisakis-specific IgE values were compared with the BAT results, with statistical analyses including Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. The results showed an 18.5% seroprevalence of Anisakis IgE, while the BAT as a second-level test showed 4.63%, indicating the BAT's superior specificity and accuracy. The study highlighted the importance of the BAT in diagnosing Anisakis sensitization, especially in cases of cross-reactivity with Ascaris and tropomyosin. The findings confirm the BAT's exceptional specificity in identifying Anisakis sensitization and support using Anisakis-specific IgE for population-based risk profiling. The BAT can effectively serve as a confirmatory test.

RESUMEN

(1) Background: The basophil activation test (BAT) is a functional whole blood-based ex vivo assay to quantify basophil activation after allergen exposure by flow cytometry. One of the most important prerequisites for the use of the BAT in the routine clinical diagnosis of allergies is a reliable, standardized and reproducible data analysis workflow. (2) Methods: We re-analyzed a public mass cytometry dataset from peanut (PN) allergic patients (n = 6) and healthy controls (n = 3) with our binning approach "pattern recognition of immune cells" (PRI). Our approach enabled a comprehensive analysis of the dataset, evaluating 30 markers to achieve optimal basophil identification and activation through multi-parametric analysis and visualization. (3) Results: We found FcεRIα/CD32 (FcγRII) as a new marker couple to identify basophils and kept CD63 as an activation marker to establish a modified BAT in combination with our PRI analysis approach. Based on this, we developed an algorithm for automated raw data processing, which enables direct data analysis and the intuitive visualization of the test results including controls and allergen stimulations. Furthermore, we discovered that the expression pattern of CD32 correlated with FcεRIα, anticorrelated with CD63 and was detectable in both the re-analyzed public dataset and our own flow cytometric results. (4) Conclusions: Our improved BAT, combined with our PRI procedure (bin-BAT), provides a reliable test with a fully reproducible analysis. The advanced bin-BAT enabled the development of an automated workflow with an intuitive visualization to discriminate allergic patients from non-allergic individuals.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The basophil activation test (BAT) has been limited to research settings due to technical issues. Novel approaches using dry, ready-to-use reagents and streamlined protocols offer greater flexibility and may open opportunities for easier implementation in clinical research. OBJECTIVE: Using a streamlined BAT (sBAT) strategy and the settings of the baseline study of the EPITOPE trial of EPicutaneous ImmunoTherapy (EPIT™) for peanut allergy, we aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing BAT in a multicenter trial and to evaluate its utility in predicting the outcomes of peanut double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). METHODS: Whole blood samples were collected from subjects aged 1-3 years (n=241) undergoing baseline eligibility DBPCFC in the EPITOPE study across 15 clinical sites in North America. After preparation with sBAT reagents, processed samples were analyzed in a single central laboratory within 5 days of collection and preparation. The eliciting dose (ED) at DBPCFC was determined using PRACTALL criteria. Using a machine learning (ML) approach which incorporated BAT-derived features, clinical characteristics, and peanut-specific IgE, the ability to predict outcomes of interest (ED [<300 mg or >300 mg] and use of epinephrine) was assessed using data randomly split into training (n=182) and validation (n=59) subsets. RESULTS: The expression of basophil activation markers CD203c and CD63 correlated with ED and severity outcomes of DBPCFC. Most informative concentrations of peanut extract in the sBAT assay for these associations were 1 and 10 ng/ml. Using ML to assess the ability to predict the outcomes of DBPCFC, the best models using only the BAT-derived features provided relatively high sensitivities of 0.86 and 0.85 for predicting eliciting dose and epinephrine use, respectively, while specificities were lower, ranging from 0.60 to 0.80. While including specific IgE and SPT data in addition to those from sBAT did not improve the ability to identify individuals most at risk for severe reactions, it did improve the ability to identify patients with an eliciting dose above 300 mg. CONCLUSION: In addition to facilitating implementation in multicenter trials, sBAT retains the potential of BAT to characterize allergic patients and confirms its potential to contribute to predicting the outcome of oral food challenges.

RESUMEN

Background: Symptoms in patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) are associated with an increase in mast cell burden and release of mast cell-derived mediators. The most frequent presentation of SM is indolent SM (ISM), with moderate symptoms and prognosis. Basophil numbers in these patients are generally normal. However, when examining basophil activation in patients with ISM, we noted an abnormal response to N-formylmethione-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Objective: Our aim was to compare basophil responsiveness to fMLP and anti-IgE in healthy volunteers and patients with ISM and relate the findings to fMLP receptor (FPR) expression. Methods: Basophils isolated from peripheral blood of 15 patients with ISM and 14 healthy volunteers were stimulated with fMLP or anti-IgE. CD63 expression to assess basophil activation and expression of FPRs were assessed by flow cytometry. Results: Baseline expression of CD63 on basophils was similar between the healthy volunteers and patients with ISM. fMLP induced higher expression of CD63 on basophils from patients with ISM, whereas responses to anti-IgE were similar between groups. Basophils from patients with ISM also had higher fMLP1 receptor (FPR1) expression, wheresas FPR2 and FPR3 were not detected. fMLP blocked the binding of anti-FPR1 antibody to FPR1, consistent with the conclusion that fMLP signals through FPR1. Conclusions: Level of fMLP-induced basophil activation is higher in patients with ISM, which is associated with an increase in FPR1 expression. Further investigation is needed to determine why FPR1 expression is elevated, whether such expression might serve as an additional surrogate marker in the diagnosis of ISM, and whether enhanced responses of basophils to fMPL might have some relationship to unexplained episodes of mediator release.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Immune-based therapy targeting immunoglobulin E (IgE), anti-IgE treatment, has emerged as an adjunct treatment for children with severe allergic asthma. After start of anti-IgE treatment, an effect of the treatment cannot be monitored by Total-IgE, because current methods measure both bound and free IgE molecules. Basophil activation test may be very useful for monitoring anti-IgE treatment efficacy. The objective of this paper is to evaluate if basophil activation test is applicable in regulating the anti-IgE treatment. METHODS: A case series of 20 children with IgE-mediated severe allergic asthma were treated according to guidelines with anti-IgE (Omalizumab). Blood samples were drawn for total IgE, specific IgE, number of IgE receptors (FcεRI) and basophil sensitivity were measured at baseline before anti-IgE treatment and 4 months after initiation of anti-IgE treatment. RESULTS: A total of 19 out of 20 children had statistically significant and clinically relevant effects of anti-IgE treatment on symptom score, lung function and medication. All 20 children had a significant reduction in basophil allergen sensitivity and the number of IgE receptors (FcεRI) on blood basophils. Anti-IgE treatment was found to be well controlled by measuring basophil allergen sensitivity and FceRI density on blood basophils. CONCLUSION: This cohort study demonstrates a promising method, measuring basophil allergen sensitivity and in particular blood basophil FceRI density, concerning the monitoring of anti-IgE treatment in different clinical situations. There are no randomized controlled trials evaluating this method in clinical settings.

RESUMEN

Background: Basophil activation tests (BATs) are useful in identifying culprits of perioperative anaphylaxis (PA), but their utility remains limited due to technical limitations, cost, and availability. Being able to prioritize patients with likely higher yields for BAT would be useful in reducing costs and manpower. Objective: We sought to investigate whether tryptase levels and clinical parameters may be useful for selecting patients for BATs. Methods: We performed a 10-year retrospective study in Hong Kong to investigate the performance of BATs associated with tryptase levels (taking during PA) and other clinical parameters. Results: Of 90 patients, 70 (77.8%) showed significant tryptase level elevation and 37 (41.1%) had a positive BAT result. BAT-positive patients presented with significantly higher absolute levels (15.9 µg/L vs 9.1 µg/L; P = .018), absolute elevation (12.8 µg/L vs 7.1 µg/L; P = .012), and fold elevation (5.6- vs 4.1-fold; P = .014) of acute tryptase than did BAT-negative patients. Among patients with positive BAT result, 94.6% (35 of 37) demonstrated elevated acute tryptase, significantly more than the BAT-negative group (66.0%; P < .001). In regression analysis, tryptase elevation was the sole significant factor correlated to BAT positivity (odds ratio, 10.14; 95% CI, 2.15-47.85; P = .003). Overall, elevated acute tryptase demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.7% and a negative predictive value of 90.0% in predicting positive results with BATs. Conclusions: We observed that tryptase elevation is a very sensitive predictor of BAT positivity among patients with identified culprits of PA. Acute elevation of tryptase would not only aid in confirming anaphylaxis but may also help guide the decision toward selecting labor-intensive and costly in vitro tests such as BATs.

RESUMEN

In vitro cell activation through specific IgE bound to high-affinity receptors on the basophil surface is a widely used strategy for the evaluation of IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reactions to betalactams. Cellular activation requires drug conjugation to a protein to form a large enough structure displaying a certain distance between haptens to allow the cross-linking of two IgE antibodies bound to the basophil's surface, triggering their degranulation. However, no information about the size and composition of these conjugates is available. Routine in vitro diagnosis using the basophil activation test uses free amoxicillin, which is assumed to conjugate to a carrier present in blood. To standardize the methodology, we propose the use of well-controlled and defined nanomaterials functionalized with amoxicilloyl. Silica nanoparticles decorated with PAMAM-dendrimer-amoxicilloyl conjugates (NpDeAXO) of different sizes and amoxicilloyl densities (50-300 µmol amoxicilloyl/gram nanoparticle) have been prepared and chemically characterized. Two methods of synthesis were performed to ensure reproducibility and stability. Their functional effect on basophils was measured using an in-house basophil activation test (BAT) that determines CD63+ or CD203chigh activation markers. It was observed that NpDeAXO nanocomposites are not only able to specifically activate basophils but also do so in a more effective way than free amoxicillin, pointing to a translational potential diagnosis.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin infusion reaction (VIR), reportedly mediated through Mas-Related G Protein-Coupled Receptor-X2, is the primary vancomycin-induced immediate drug reaction. Clinically, distinguishing the underlying drug-induced immediate drug reaction mechanisms is crucial for future treatment strategies, including drug restriction, re-administration, and pretreatment considerations. However, the lack of validated diagnostic tests makes this challenging, often leading to unnecessary drug restriction. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intradermal tests (IDTs) and, separately, the basophil activation test (BAT) differentiate VIR from vancomycin-tolerant subjects. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of vancomycin-exposed adults with and without a history of VIR. Data on demographics, allergy-related comorbidities, history of vancomycin exposures, and VIR characteristics were collected. IDT with vancomycin was performed. IDT dose-response EC50, IDT-related local symptoms, and BAT results were compared between groups. RESULTS: A total of 11 VIR and 10 vancomycin-tolerant subjects were enrolled. The most reported VIR symptoms were pruritus (82%), flushing (82%), hives (46%), angioedema (27%), and dyspnea (19%). The IDT dose-response mean EC50 was 328 µg/mL (95% CI, 296-367) in the VIR versus 1166 µg/mL (95% CI, 1029-1379) in the tolerant group (P < .0001). All VIR subjects reported IDT-related local pruritus compared with 60% of tolerant subjects (P = .0185). The %CD63+ basophils were consistently less than 2%, without significant differences between groups (P < .54). CONCLUSIONS: Variations in skin test methodologies could help identify other immediate drug reaction mechanisms beyond IgE. This skin test protocol holds the potential for identifying VIR, particularly in cases where patients have received multiple drugs while BAT is insufficient. Future studies will validate and delineate its predictive value, assessing the risk of VIR.

RESUMEN

Introduction: The Janus kinase (JAK) family includes four cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2) constitutively bound to several cytokine receptors. JAKs phosphorylate downstream signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT). JAK-STAT5 pathways play a critical role in basophil and mast cell activation. Previous studies have demonstrated that inhibitors of JAK-STAT pathway blocked the activation of mast cells and basophils. Methods: In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of ruxolitinib, a JAK1/2 inhibitor, on IgE- and IL-3-mediated release of mediators from human basophils, as well as substance P-induced mediator release from skin mast cells (HSMCs). Results: Ruxolitinib concentration-dependently inhibited IgE-mediated release of preformed (histamine) and de novo synthesized mediators (leukotriene C4) from human basophils. Ruxolitinib also inhibited anti-IgE- and IL-3-mediated cytokine (IL-4 and IL-13) release from basophils, as well as the secretion of preformed mediators (histamine, tryptase, and chymase) from substance P-activated HSMCs. Discussion: These results indicate that ruxolitinib, inhibiting the release of several mediators from human basophils and mast cells, is a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Asunto(s)

Basófilos , Janus Quinasa 1 , Janus Quinasa 2 , Mastocitos , Nitrilos , Pirazoles , Pirimidinas , Humanos , Basófilos/efectos de los fármacos , Basófilos/inmunología , Basófilos/metabolismo , Pirimidinas/farmacología , Nitrilos/farmacología , Mastocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Mastocitos/inmunología , Mastocitos/metabolismo , Pirazoles/farmacología , Janus Quinasa 1/antagonistas & inhibidores , Janus Quinasa 1/metabolismo , Janus Quinasa 2/metabolismo , Janus Quinasa 2/antagonistas & inhibidores , Células Cultivadas , Inhibidores de las Cinasas Janus/farmacología , Citocinas/metabolismo , Inmunoglobulina E/inmunología , Inmunoglobulina E/metabolismo , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacología

RESUMEN

Before starting venom-specific immunotherapy (VIT), systemic sting reactions to Hymenoptera venoms require allergological workup in order to prove an IgE-mediated reaction and to identify the culprit insect venom. In addition to skin tests and the determination of specific IgE antibodies, the basophil activation test (BAT) using flow cytometry has emerged as a powerful tool and sensitive marker for this purpose in recent years. BAT seems to have a better informative value in terms of clinical relevance compared to the other tests. In Hymenoptera venom allergies, BAT is particularly useful for the diagnosis of cases with unclear or contradictory history and sensitization profile. Its results are associated with adverse reactions during VIT and efficacy of VIT and therefore have a certain predictive value for side effects and treatment failure of VIT. In research, it is mainly used to characterize the allergenic components of Hymenoptera venoms. This review article focuses on these topics.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Delabelling pathways offer confirmatory diagnosis and can prevent unnecessary second-line therapies or drug desensitization procedures after chemotherapeutic hypersensitivity reactions (CHT-HSRs). However, these pathways rely on risky in vivo tests. Data on whether in vitro tests could be helpful are scarce. We assessed the role of basophil activation test (BAT) in the diagnosis of HSRs to platin salts (PSs) and taxanes (TXs) in a well-defined population featuring varied endophenotypes and severities of HSRs. METHODS: We conducted a 3-year-long multicentric, prospective study with 121 suspected-immediate CHT-HSR patients. The allergy workup included clinical history (initial reaction based on Type I, cytokine release syndrome, and mixed phenotype's symptoms and if unable to fit in any of these, as "indeterminate"), skin testing (ST), and drug provocation testing (DPT), provided risk assessment was favorable. Final diagnosis classified patients as "hypersensitive," "non-hypersensitive," or "inconclusive." We performed BAT using CD63 and CD203c as activation markers in patients and controls. Patients underwent DPT regardless of BAT results to prevent bias. RESULTS: ST positivity significantly correlated with skin involvement, Type I phenotype, cancer recurrence, and lifetime exposures before reactions. DPTs were negative in all indeterminate phenotype patients (p = .02) and those considered low-risk, whereas they were negative in 62% moderate-risk patients. 55% were confirmed as hypersensitive (mainly Type I reactions, p < .0001), 24% as non-hypersensitive (mainly TXs and indeterminate phenotypes), and 21% as inconclusive. BAT showed 79% sensitivity in Type I IgE-mediated reactions to PSs with a high correlation to ST. CONCLUSIONS: BAT is a promising tool for delabelling and endotyping CHT-HSRs, especially Type I reactions to PSs, possibly identifying patients at risk of positive DPT. ST seems useful in confirming CHT-HSRs, especially PS-induced reactions, and DPT remains the gold standard, being essential even in moderate-risk patients.

RESUMEN

Summary: Background. Parthenium hysterophorus pollen induces chronic clinical conditions such as allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Among the plethora of proteins in the pollens, only few were reported to induce allergy. Currently sensitization to P. hysterophorus pollen allergen is diagnosed by skin prick test (SPT) using the entire pollen extract instead of using the specific allergen. Methods. In P. hysterophorus sensitized patients, SPT was done using the crude pollen extract, 40 kDa allergenic pollen protein and two commercially synthesized allergen epitopes (17 and 24) of P. hysterophorus. Dot-blot of allergen epitopes was done using P. hysterophorus sensitized sera. Crude pollen extract (1, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 µg/mL), 40 kDa allergenic protein (3 µg/mL), and allergen epitopes (3µg/mL) were used to perform Basophil Activation Test (BAT). Results. Crude pollen extract at 2.5, 5, 10 µg/mL and 40 kDa allergenic protein at 3µg/mL concentrations induced wheal and flare reaction by around 15 minutes, whereas commercially synthesized allergen epitopes at 3µg/mL induced wheal and flare reactions in less than 10 minutes. Allergen epitopes (3 µg/mL) revealed strong reactivity with sensitized patient's IgE in dot-blot analysis. Basophil activation Test using crude pollen extract (2.5, 5, 10 µg/mL), 40 kDa allergenic protein (3 µg/mL), and allergenic epitopes (3µg/mL) indicated significant basophil activation (as measured by CD63 expression) in sensitized patients. Conclusions. The 40 kDa allergenic protein and its allergenic epitopes (17 and 24) induced phenotypic and cellular immune responses in P. hysterophorus sensitized individuals. The tested allergenic epitopes (17 and 24) induced faster wheal and flare reactions in comparison with the crude extract and the 40 kDa allergenic protein. The novel 40kDa allergenic protein and its allergen epitopes identified here may be useful for the development of component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) while also serving as a potential therapeutic lead for desensitization treatment for P. hysterophorus pollen induced allergy.

RESUMEN

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: With increased access and decriminalization of cannabis use, cases of IgE-dependent cannabis allergy (CA) and cross-reactivity syndromes have been increasingly reported. However, the exact prevalence of cannabis allergy and associated cross-reactive food syndromes (CAFS) remains unknown and is likely to be underestimated due to a lack of awareness and insufficient knowledge of the subject among health care professionals. Therefore, this practical roadmap aims to familiarize the reader with the early recognition and correct management of IgE-dependent cannabis-related allergies. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying these cross-reactivity syndromes and to enable personalized diagnosis and management, special attention is given to the molecular diagnosis of cannabis-related allergies. RECENT FINDINGS: The predominant signs and symptoms of CA are rhinoconjunctivitis and contact urticaria/angioedema. However, CA can also present as a life-threatening condition. In addition, many patients with CA also have distinct cross-reactivity syndromes, mainly involving fruits, vegetables, nuts and cereals. At present, five allergenic components of Cannabis sativa (Can s); Can s 2 (profilin), Can s 3 (a non-specific lipid protein), Can s 4 (oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 2 oxygen), Can s 5 (the Bet v 1 homologue) and Can s 7 (thaumatin-like protein) have been characterized and indexed in the WHO International Union of Immunological Sciences (IUIS) allergen database. However, neither of them is currently readily available for diagnosis, which generally starts by testing crude extracts of native allergens. The road to a clear understanding of CA and the associated cross-reactive food syndromes (CAFS) is still long and winding, but well worth further exploration.

Asunto(s)

Alérgenos , Cannabis , Reacciones Cruzadas , Inmunoglobulina E , Humanos , Reacciones Cruzadas/inmunología , Cannabis/inmunología , Cannabis/efectos adversos , Inmunoglobulina E/inmunología , Alérgenos/inmunología , Hipersensibilidad a los Alimentos/inmunología , Hipersensibilidad a los Alimentos/diagnóstico , Hipersensibilidad a los Alimentos/terapia , Síndrome , Hipersensibilidad/inmunología , Hipersensibilidad/diagnóstico , Hipersensibilidad/terapia

RESUMEN

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is a delayed allergic reaction triggered by IgE antibodies targeting galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal), prevalent in red meat. Its global significance has increased, with over 450,000 estimated cases in the United States alone. AGS is linked to tick bites, causing sensitization and elevated α-gal specific IgE levels. However, the precise mechanisms and tick intrinsic factors contributing to AGS development post-tick bites remain unclear. This study aims to characterize the alpha-gal conjugated lipid antigens in Amblyomma americanum (Am. americanum) salivary glands and saliva. Nanospray ionization mass spectrometry (NSI-MS) analysis revealed the identification of α-gal bound lipid antigens in Am. americanum saliva. Additionally, the activation of basophils by extracted alpha-gal bound lipids and proteins provides evidence of their antigenic capabilities.

RESUMEN

Upon first exposure to cetuximab, hypersensitivity reactions can occur. We aimed to assess the utility of the basophil activation test (BAT) to alpha-gal and cetuximab for predicting severe reactions. We prospectively recruited 38 patients and evaluated sIgE to alpha-gal in all patients before the first application of cetuximab. In all alpha-gal-sensitized patients, we evaluated skin tests to meat extracts, gelatine, and cetuximab and performed BAT with alpha-gal and cetuximab. In 24% (9/38) of patients, sIgE to alpha-gal was >0.10 kUA/L, and 8/9 reacted to the cetuximab. Basophil activation tests with alpha-gal were positive in all sensitized patients and were higher in those with severe reactions (18.3% in grade 4 [n = 4] vs. 1.8% in grade 2 [n = 3] or no reaction [n = 1] at 3.3 ng/mL of alpha-gal; p = 0.03). All patients with severe grade 4 reactions had a positive CD63 BAT response to cetuximab compared to patients with moderate or no reaction, who all had negative BAT (57.7% vs. 0.9% at 500 µg/mL, 63.2% vs. 4.1% at 100 µg/mL, 58.2% vs. 2.7% at 10 µg/mL, and 32.1% vs. 3.3% at 1 µg/mL of cetuximab, respectively; p ≤ 0.001). In summary, before initiating cetuximab treatment, sIgE to alpha-gal should be assessed in all patients. To predict the severity of the reaction and to assess the risk of cetuximab-induced anaphylaxis, we should perform BATs with alpha-gal or more discriminative BATs with cetuximab.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The α-Gal syndrome (AGS) is an emerging allergy to mammalian food caused by IgE-mediated reactions to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal). Mammalian food sources contain α-Gal, but the amount differs. The objective of this study was to investigate the allergenic potency of various foods of mammalian origin among AGS patients. METHODS: Twenty-six AGS patients were included. Food extracts from innards, lean meats, processed meat products, milk, and whey were analyzed. Immunoblot, ELISA, immunofluorescence, and basophil activation test were used to determine the α-Gal content, characterize IgE binding, and assess foods' allergenicity. RESULTS: The determined amount of α-Gal, IgE reactivity to food extracts, and food extract potencies to activate patients' basophils correlated well with each other. Pork and beef kidney showed the highest allergenicity. Beef liver and bacon showed allergenicity comparable to that of lean meats. Game meat seemed to have a higher allergenic potency than meats from farm-raised animals. The processed meat products liver pâté and black pudding, despite lower α-Gal content, demonstrated moderate allergenicity. Milk showed the lowest allergenicity. IgE reactivity to food extracts was highly similar for all patients and strongly dominated by the α-Gal epitope. CONCLUSIONS: The allergenic potency of mammalian meat depends on the origin of the meat, the different cuts, and type of processing, with innards posing the greatest risk to AGS patients. Even processed mammalian meat constitutes a risk. Dairy products show the lowest risk. This study highlights the importance of analyzing even more foods to improve the management of AGS.

RESUMEN

Basophils are the rarest circulating white blood cells (WBCs), but they play important roles in allergic disorders and other diseases. To enhance diagnostic capabilities, it would be desirable to isolate and analyze basophils efficiently from small blood samples. In 100 µL of whole blood, there are typically ~103 basophils, outnumbered by ~105 WBCs and ~108 red blood cells (RBCs). Basophils' low abundance has therefore presented a significant challenge in their isolation from whole blood. Conventional in-bulk basophil isolation methods require lengthy processing steps and cannot work with small volumes of blood. Here we report a parallelized integrated basophil isolation device (pi-BID) for the negative immunomagnetic selection of basophils directly from 4 samples of 100 µL of whole blood, in parallel, within 14 minutes including sample preparation time. The pi-BID interfaces directly with standard sample tubes, and uses a single pressure source to drive the flow in parallel microfluidic channels. Compared with conventional in-bulk basophil isolation, the pi-BID is >3× faster, and has higher purity (~93%) and similar recovery (~67%). Compared with other microfluidic devices for the immunomagnetic isolation of WBC sub-types, our pi-BID achieves 10× higher enrichment of target cells from whole blood, with no prior removal of RBCs necessary.

RESUMEN

Summary: Background. In diagnosing insect venom allergy and making immunotherapy decisions, clinical history, skin tests, and specific serum IgE levels are commonly utilized. This study aims to emphasize the clinical significance of using the basophil activation test in accurately identifying sensitivities in individuals with insect venom allergy and to compare its effectiveness with other testing methods. Methods. This study included a total of 43 patients, who experienced at least one systemic allergic reaction following insect stings and were deemed suitable for immunotherapy.Basophil activation test, specific serum IgE levels, and skin prick test results utilized in making immunotherapy treatment decisions were recorded. Results. Our study determined that the overall clinical sensitivities of the basophil activation test (BAT), specific serum IgE (spIgE), and skin prick test (SPT) for apis mellifera were 95.5%, 95.7%, and 48.4% respectively, while for vespula vulgaris, they were 83.3%, 100%, and 33.3%. Based on these results, the prediction of systemic reactions to bee stings is ordered as spIgE > BAT > SPT. Additionally, early-stage skin prick tests showed a sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 50% at a cut-off value of 1.5 mm, and 33% sensitivity and 83% specificity at 2.5 mm. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that the basophil activation test (BAT) can provide a high positive predictive value in immunotherapy treatment decisions and offer significant insights in clinical practices.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the predictive value of the circulating blood cell count, including neutro-philto-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and thesystemic inflammation index (SII) for the development of severe oral mucositis (SOM) induced by radiation in patients undergoing radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: In this retrospective study, 142 NPC patients were screened, and based on mucositis toxicity grade, they were categorized into two groups: SOM and nonSOM. Peripheral blood cell counts were conducted prior to Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). Associations between blood cell count, NLR, PLR, SII, and SOM occurrence were examined. RESULTS: Revealed elevated NLR and SII levels, along with reduced lymphocyte (LYM), eosinophil (EOS), and basophil (BAS) in patients with SOM. LYM, EOS, BAS, NLR, and SII were effective predictors of the severity of radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) in NPC patients. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of SOM was strongly linked to the hematological status at the start of Radiation Therapy (RT). Integrating BAS count and NLR into comprehensive risk prediction models could prove valuable for predicting SOM in NPC patients.

Asunto(s)

Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo , Neoplasias Nasofaríngeas , Radioterapia de Intensidad Modulada , Estomatitis , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Masculino , Femenino , Radioterapia de Intensidad Modulada/efectos adversos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estomatitis/etiología , Estomatitis/sangre , Estomatitis/patología , Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo/radioterapia , Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo/sangre , Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo/patología , Adulto , Neoplasias Nasofaríngeas/radioterapia , Neoplasias Nasofaríngeas/sangre , Anciano , Pronóstico , Traumatismos por Radiación/sangre , Traumatismos por Radiación/etiología , Traumatismos por Radiación/patología , Traumatismos por Radiación/diagnóstico , Biomarcadores/sangre , Inflamación/etiología , Inflamación/sangre , Estudios de Seguimiento , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas

RESUMEN

Basophils, rare granulocytes, have long been acknowledged for their roles in type 2 immune responses. However, the mechanisms by which basophils adapt their functions to diverse mammalian microenvironments remain unclear. Recent advancements in specific research tools and single-cell-based technologies have greatly enhanced our understanding of basophils. Several studies have shown that basophils play a role in maintaining homeostasis but can also contribute to pathology in various tissues and organs, including skin, lung, and others. Here, we provide an overview of recent basophil research, including cell development, characteristics, and functions. Based on an increasing understanding of basophil biology, we suggest that the precise targeting of basophil features might be beneficial in alleviating certain pathologies such as asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), and others.

Asunto(s)

Basófilos , Diferenciación Celular , Basófilos/inmunología , Humanos , Animales , Diferenciación Celular/inmunología , Dermatitis Atópica/inmunología , Asma/inmunología , Homeostasis/inmunología