Assays for measuring in vitro basophil activation induced by recombinant allergens.

Full Abstract

The diagnosis of type I allergy is essentially based on clinical data, skin tests, and measurements of allergen-specific IgE. However, the determination of specific IgE per se does not permit a definitive conclusion concerning the response of effector cells to the respective allergen(s) and consecutive clinical symptoms in all patients. In an attempt to overcome this problem, a number of basophil-activation assays have been developed during the last few years. Today, allergen-induced activation of blood basophils can be employed as a specific and reliable measure of IgE-dependent responses in sensitized individuals. Using recombinant allergens and basophil-specific markers, these novel assays appear to serve as simple and useful tests in component-resolved diagnosis of type I allergies. In the current article, the biochemical, functional, and technical background of these basophil tests is discussed.

Author information

Author/s: Valent, Peter (P); Hauswirth, Alexander W (AW); Natter, Susanne (S); Sperr, Wolfgang R (WR); Bühring, Hans-Jörg (HJ); Valenta, Rudolf (R);

Affiliation: Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, The University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. peter.valent(-atsign-)akh-wien.ac.at

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: In Vitro; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Methods (San Diego, Calif.) (Methods), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2004-Mar; vol 32 (issue 3) : pp 265-70

Dates: Created 2004/02/13; Completed 2004/10/07; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 14962761, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Allergens - immunology
Antigens, CD - immunology
Basophils - immunology; metabolism
Histamine - metabolism
Hypersensitivity, Immediate - diagnosis; immunology

Immunoassay - methods
Immunoglobulin E - immunology
Laboratory Techniques and Procedures
Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins - immunology
Recombinant Proteins - immunology

Associated Chemicals: Allergens (0) ; Antigens, CD (0) ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins (0) ; Recombinant Proteins (0) ; lysosomal protein GP53 (0) ; Immunoglobulin E (37341-29-0) ; Histamine (51-45-6)

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