title: In vitro analysis of birch-pollen-associated food allergy by use of recombinant allergens in the basophil activation test.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basophil activation is associated with the expression of CD63. In birch-pollen-associated food allergy to celery, carrot and apple, Bet v 1, Api g 1, Dau c 1 and Mal d 1 are major allergens. Recombinant allergens have not yet been used in the CD63-based basophil activation test (BAT).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of using recombinant allergens in the BAT in the diagnosis of allergy to apple, carrot and celery and to compare results with routine tests, i.e. skin prick tests (SPTs) and specific IgE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with an oral allergy syndrome induced by apple, carrot or celery and 22 controls were studied. SPTs were performed with native foods. Specific IgE was determined by the CAP method and basophil activation by flowcytometry upon double staining with anti-IgE/anti-CD63 monoclonal antibodies after incubating with purified recombinant Bet v 1, Bet v 2, Api g 1, Dau c 1 and Mal d 1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By the combined use of the BAT and the CAP method, sensitization to Bet v 1 and Bet v 2 was detected in 100 and 25% of all subjects, respectively. Sensitivity of specific IgE for apple, carrot and celery was 60, 70 and 75% with corresponding specificities of 64, 86 and 82%. Sensitivity of the BAT for Mal d 1, Dau c 1 and Api g 1 was 75, 65 and 75% with corresponding specificities of 68, 100 and 77%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BAT using recombinant allergens provides a valuable new in vitro method for the detection of sensitization to foods. Although double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges remain the gold standard to confirm food allergy, the CD63-based BAT with recombinant allergens may supplement routine tests for allergy diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital of Aachen, Aachen, Germany. serdmann@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Merk
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scheiner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moll-Slodowy
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kwiecien
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maderegger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoffmann-Sommergruber
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D029662:Betula / Q000276:immunology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012882:Skin Tests; D060149:Tetraspanin 30
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C096695:Api g 1 protein, Apium graveolens; C554586:CD63 protein, human; C119925:Dau c 1 protein, Daucus carota; C095551:MALD1 protein, Malus domestica; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; C061312:Bet v 1 allergen, Betula; D007073:Immunoglobulin E