title: The cAMP assay: a functional in vitro alternative to the in vivo Histamine Sensitization test.
abstract: Safety requirements stipulate the performance of the in vivo Histamine Sensitization (HS) test for quality control of acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines. For reasons of reproducibility and animal welfare concern, an in vitro assay was developed. The assay reflects the mechanism of histamine sensitization and is based on cAMP production in A10 cells to residual pertussis toxin (PT). We showed that PT induces cAMP levels in a dose-dependent manner while the sensitivity of the assay equals the sensitivity of the HS test. Neither the individual components nor the combination vaccine DTaP-IP did affect the assay. The cAMP assay meets the criteria for specificity and sensitivity and therefore might be a promising candidate to replace the HS test.
authors: Netherlands Vaccine Institute (NVI), P.O. Box 457, 3720 AL Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Marieke.Hoonakker@nvi-vaccin.nl
authors: Marieke E
authors: ME
authors: Hoonakker
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Ruiterkamp
authors: Coenraad F M
authors: CF
authors: Hendriksen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011786:Quality Control; D051381:Rats; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D006632:Histamine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D037342:Pertussis Toxin