title: Passive IgE-sensitization by blood transfusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the mechanisms of passive sensitization of patients receiving plasma containing IgE antibodies to a defined allergen.
  
  
  METHODS
  When required for medical reasons, regular donor plasma with IgE antibodies to timothy grass allergen (8-205 kU(A)/l), was given. Kinetics of IgE antibodies in the recipients' serum and his/her basophil allergen threshold sensitivity, CD-sens, was monitored up to 2-3 weeks after transfusion. The IgE antibodies were quantitated by ImmunoCAP. The CD-sens in plasma recipients, determined by CD63 up-regulation, was measured by flow cytometry and compared to CD-sens of patients with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant correlation (r = 0.98; P < 0.001) between amount of IgE antibody given and recipient serum peak concentration. The T(1/2) for IgE antibody in circulation was 1.13 days (95% confidence limit 0.35-1.91 days). The recipients became CD-sens positive already 3 h after transfusion. The CD-sens peak was observed after 3.4 days and the value were correlated (r = 0.68; P < 0.02) to the amount of IgE antibody transfused and were of the same magnitude as found in allergic patients. The T(1/2) of CD-sens indicated two populations of basophils; one with a CD-sens decrease T(1/2) of 4 days and one of 10 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transfused IgE antibodies will sensitize mast cells and basophils to CD-sens levels similar to those of allergic patients. The recipients expressed 'slow' or 'rapid' CD-sens decline, indicating two different basophil populations. After transfusion of plasma with >10 kU(A)/l IgE antibody the recipient could have allergen reactive basophils for up to 7 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Clinical Immunology and Allergy Unit, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: S G O
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nopp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Hage
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lundahl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wehlin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Söderström
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stiller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oman
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D031784:Phleum / Q000276:immunology*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E