BACKGROUND Omalizumab treatment suppresses FcεRI expression faster on blood basophils than skin mast cells. OBJECTIVE We utilized omalizumab to elucidate the relative contributions of basophil versus mast cell FcεRI activation in a nasal allergen challenge (NAC) model. METHODS Eighteen cat-allergic subjects were enrolled in a 3.5-month, double-blind, randomized (3.5:1), placebo-controlled trial of omalizumab using standard dosing. At baseline, subjects underwent NAC with lavage for PGD2 measurement, skin prick test titration (SPTT), and blood sampling for basophil histamine release (BHR) and basophil IgE/FcεRI measurements. Basophil studies were repeated at day 3 and then weekly until cat allergen-induced BHR was <20% of baseline or until day 45. Baseline visit procedures were repeated after the BHR reduction (mid-study NAC) and at the treatment period’s completion (final NAC). RESULTS Subjects treated with omalizumab who completed all NACs (n=12) demonstrated significant mean reduction in BHR to an optimal dose of cat allergen by mid-study NAC as compared to baseline (74% decrease, p=0.001). In addition, these subjects demonstrated significant decreases in mean combined nasal symptom scores (50% decrease, p=0.007) and total sneeze counts (59% decrease, p=0.01) by mid-study NAC relative to baseline NAC. In contrast, measures of mast cell response (SPTT and nasal lavage PGD2) were only significantly reduced by the final NAC. Subjects on placebo (n=4) did not experience a shift in basophil, NAC symptom, or mast cell measures. CONCLUSIONS Reduction in nasal symptom scores occurred when the basophil, but not mast cell, response was reduced on omalizumab, implicating a role for basophils in the acute NAC response.

No abstract

Older adults (≥65 years of age) bear a significant burden of severe disease and mortality associated with influenza, despite relatively high annual vaccination coverage and substantial pre-existing immunity to influenza. To test the hypothesis that host factors, including age and sex, play a role in determining the effect of repeated vaccination and levels of pre-existing humoral immunity to influenza, we evaluated pre- and post-vaccination strain-specific hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers in adults over 75 years of age who received a high-dose influenza vaccine in at least four out of six influenza seasons. Pre-vaccination titers, rather than host factors and repeated vaccination were significantly associated with post-vaccination HAI titer outcomes, and displayed an age-by-sex interaction. Pre-vaccination titers to H1N1 remained constant with age. Titers to H3N2 and influenza B viruses decreased substantially with age in males, whereas titers in females remained constant with age. Our findings highlight the importance of pre-existing immunity in this highly vaccinated older adult population and suggest that older males are particularly vulnerable to reduced pre-existing humoral immunity to influenza.

C. pneumoniae was the most prevalent pathogen in this study of ACS and was responsible for significant morbidity. Additional research is required to develop effective treatment guidelines for ACS.