Validation of basophil CD164 upregulation for pollen allergy diagnosis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by allergy to grass pollens. This study was performed in 24 patients with allergy to grass pollens, and in 25 healthy controls. The protocol for allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation consisted of whole blood samples processing and staining with anti-CCR3/anti-CD164 antibodies added to a buffer at the beginning of stimulation. We observed dose-dependent allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation with 100% of specificity in both used allergen concentrations (12 and 1.2 ng/ml). Higher allergen concentration resulted in 100% and lower concentration in only 70.83% sensitivity. We have observed in the patients statistically significant correlations between anti-IgE stimulation and both allergen concentrations (for 12 ng/ml, r = 0.71, p < 0.0001; and for 1.2 ng/ml, r = 0.64, p < 0.001). We conclude that assessment of allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation is a very useful method for in vitro determination of allergy to grass pollens. This method seems to be a very promising tool in laboratory testing of allergies to other allergens.

Influence of hyperosmotic conditions on basophil CD203c upregulation in patients with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

Increased in vitro basophil activation in buffers of slightly elevated osmolarity in 2 cases of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis is presented. These data may suggest the importance of basophil activation degree in pathogenesis of this life threatening syndrome.

[Efficacy and safety of specific immunotherapy of upper airways allergic diseases caused by allergy to mites]. / Skutecznosc i bezpieczenstwo doustnej immunoterapii swoistej alergicznych schorzen górnych dróg oddechowych w zwiazku z uczuleniem na roztocza.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3 years oral specific immunotherapy in patients with perannial allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma caused by allergy to mites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with allergic perannial rhinitis entered the study. Ten of them suffered also from bronchial asthma. During 3 years of therapy we have monitored the appearance of side effects, clinical parameters (symptoms degree and medication usage score) and immunological parameters (serum eosinophil cationic protein concentration and leukotriene C4 liberation by peripheral blood leukocytes upon in vitro specific allergens stimulation). RESULTS: We have not observed the appearance of any adverse event, so medication has been recognized as a safe. Moreover, we have observed a lot of positive therapeutical effects--the lowering of symptoms scores, accompanied by advantageous changes in immunological parameters. However, in spite of 3 years of therapy, many patients still reported the substantial clinical symptoms, accompanied by still elevated serum ECP concentration and relatively high leukotriene C4 liberation by peripheral blood leukocytes upon in vitro stimulation by specific allergens. CONCLUSION: Oral specific immunotherapy in the patients with allergic diseases of upper airways is a safe medication but leads only to moderate clinical efficacy accompanied by lowering serum ECP concentration and reducing of leukotrienes C4 liberation by peripheral blood leukocytes stimulated by specific allergens.

[Use of selected parameters of nasal lavage fluid in asthma severity monitoring]. / Wybrane parametry w materiale z plukania nosa w ocenie ciezkosci astmy.

UNLABELLED: Allergic inflammation is a chronic disorder underlying asthma and allergic rhinitis. There is a theory "one system--one disease" connecting these two atopic diseases. Eosinophil is a major effector cell in both processes. The possible correlations between spirometric parameters and concentrations of selected mediators in peripheral blood and nasal lavage (NLF) fluid were estimated. 14 asthmatic patients entered the study, all of them symptoms free. In NLF supernatants and in blood ECP and sVCAM-1 concentrations were measured and cells in NLF were counted. RESULTS: Number of eosinophils in NLF correlated with sVCAM-1 concentration in NLF (R2 = 0.68; p < 0.05). In serum ECP and sVCAM-1 concentrations correlated with each other (R2 = 0.73; p < 0.05). Correlation between ECP concentration in serum or NLF and FEV1 was: R2ser = 0.49, R2NLF = 0.50 (p < 0.05), respectively. ECP concentration concentration correlated in serum and NLF correlated with MEF25: R2ser = 0.77, R2NLF = 0.45 (p < 0.05), and sVCAM-1 spirometric parameters: R2FEV1 = 0.26, R2MEF25 = 0.67, p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: VCAM-1 is active in selective eosinophil migration to peripheral tissue. It can also activate these cells. Concentration of ECP and sVCAM-1 in blood serum and NLF correlate with the course of bronchial asthma described by spirometric parameters, and therefore can be used in disease treatment monitoring.