Systematic characterization of basophil anergy.
BACKGROUND
Cohort studies indicated that in certain individuals the basophils do not respond toward allergens due to a desensitization of their Fc epsilon receptor pathway. Cause and functional role as well as the implications on allergic reactions, however, are not clear yet.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out in the tropical urban environment of Singapore, where the allergic response is dominated by a single allergen (house dust mite; HDM). Blood samples were collected from 476 individuals and analyzed comprehensively to correlate the functional state of their basophils with the clinical state as well as the composition of the cellular and soluble plasma components.


RESULTS
Inactivation of basophils ('basophil anergy') was observed in about 10% of the cohort. It was associated with a downregulation of basophil Syk and an apparent reduction in the incidence of allergic rhinitis. Correlations on the cohort level suggest that it represents a transitional state to be passed through during the interconversion of responder and nonresponder state.


CONCLUSIONS
Basophil anergy thus seems to function as activation barrier to prevent unwanted reactions against minor allergens. It may therefore be relevant for diagnostic purposes or therapeutic interventions of allergic diseases.
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Kia Joo
KJ
Puan
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Anand Kumar
AK
Andiappan
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Bernett
B
Lee
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Dilip
D
Kumar
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Tuck Siong
TS
Lai
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Giminna
G
Yeo
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Derya
D
Bercin
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Mireille
M
Starke
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Doreen
D
Haase
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Josephine
J
Lum
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Fook Tim
FT
Chew
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
John
J
Connolly
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Siew Cheng
SC
Wong
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Francesca
F
Zolezzi
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Michael
M
Poidinger
Department of Otolaryngology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
De Yun
Y
Wang
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.
Olaf
O
Rötzschke
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D017635:Clonal Anergy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000072377:Syk Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000072377:Syk Kinase

HDM
; allergic rhinitis; anergy; basophil