Immunotherapy in allergy and cellular tests: state of art.
The basophil activation test (BAT) is an in vitro assay where the activation of basophils upon exposure to various IgE-challenging molecules is measured by flow cytometry. It is a cellular test able to investigate basophil behavior during allergy and allergy immunotherapy. A panoply of critical issues and suggestive advances have rendered this assay a promising yet puzzling tool to endeavor a full comprehension of innate immunity of allergy desensitization and manage allergen or monoclonal anti-IgE therapy. In this review a brief state of art of BAT in immunotherapy is described focusing onto the analytical issue pertaining BAT performance in allergy specific therapy.
Department of Medicine; University of Verona; Verona, Italy; Laboratory of Physiopathology of Obesity; Depertment of Medicine-University of Verona; LURM Est Policlinico GB Rossi; Verona, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Chirumbolo
D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*
CD203c; CD63; allergy immunotherapy; basophil activation test; omalizumab