Skin reactivity, basophil degranulation and IgE levels in ageing.
Skin tests with histamine, the histamine-liberator, codeine, and various allergens as well as blood basophil degranulation by anti-IgE or anti-IgG4 and total serum IgE levels have been studied in two female populations of different ages (average 23.1 and 73.9 years). All thirty-one patients selected for this study were clinically non-allergic. We observed a trend towards reduced skin reactions to histamine and codeine in the higher age-group; on the other hand, we could not find any decrease of basophil degranulation as a sign of basophil impairment with age. Likewise no difference in total serum IgE levels have been noticed. No correlation between skin tests and basophil degranulation was observed; yet patients with isolated, positive skin tests to house dust and/or Candida albicans showed a statistically significant reduced blood basophil degranulation by anti-IgE or anti-IgG4.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001491:Basophils / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D007073:Immunoglobulin E