A new variant of the basophil activation test for allergen-induced basophil CD63 upregulation. The effect of cetirizine.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic usefulness of a newly developed basophil activation test (BAT) in patients allergic to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and pollens. We also analyzed the influence of cetirizine on CD63 upregulation. This popular antihistamine strongly inhibits skin tests, but its impact on BAT sensitivity remains unknown and deserves at least preliminary determination.


METHODS
The study sample comprised 22 patients allergic to house dust mite and pollens and 19 healthy controls. All participants underwent skin prick testing and the newly developed flow-cytometric basophil activation test. The protocol for allergen-induced basophil CD63 upregulation consisted of whole blood samples that were processed and stained with anti-CCR3/CD63 antibodies added to the buffer at the beginning of stimulation. Skin prick tests and BAT were performed twice--before and 2 hours after ingestion of 10 mg of cetirizine.


RESULTS
The new BAT is characterized by its short processing time, easy basophil gating, and strong CD63 upregulation with very high sensitivity and excellent specificity. Our results suggest that allergen-induced CD63 upregulation by higher doses of allergens is not inhibited 2 hours after administration of cetirizine (unlike skin prick tests).


CONCLUSIONS
The BAT is a very useful and precise method for the diagnosis of allergy to aeroallergens. It is not influenced by cetirizine.
Department of Internal Diseases and Allergology, Medical University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland. wojmed@wp.pl
A
A
Wolanczyk-Medrala
G
G
Gogolewski
J
J
Liebhart
K
K
Gomulka
M
M
Litwa
B
B
Panaszek
K
K
Lindner
W
W
Medrala
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D015549:Basophil Degranulation Test / Q000379:methods*; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D060149:Tetraspanin 30
D015703:Antigens, CD; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C554586:CD63 protein, human; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; D017332:Cetirizine