Diagnostic Tests Based on Human Basophils: More Potentials and Perspectives than Pitfalls

Abstract

For the diagnosis of allergy, cellular basophil activation tests (BAT), e.g. histamine or sulfidoleukotriene release tests, have long been introduced, but the expression of basophil activation markers such as CD63 and CD203c detected by flow cytometry has attracted more recent attention. A recent opinion paper in this Journal has stressed not only the potential but also the possible pitfalls of flow-cytometric BAT. We have applied clinical validation of various BAT in various ways for several years, and our experience shows that these new technologies have more potentials and perspectives than pitfalls. A comprehensive review of clinically validated studies on allergy to aeroallergens, insect venoms, latex, food allergens and drugs, e.g. myorelaxants, β-lactams, pyrazolones and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as chronic urticaria shows clearly that even with different protocols, reproducible and meaningful results can be obtained. Although the available technologies may still be optimized and better standardized, there are no serious reasons to deprive allergic patients of clinically indicated BAT, which can be performed reliably by any laboratory with allergy and flow-cytometric capacity and expertise.

A comparison between two different in vitro basophil activation tests for gluten- and cow’s milk protein sensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like patients

“…It has been pointed out that whole blood is less stable and functional than the isolated leukocytes, and this considerably reduces its range of use [ 15 ]. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the presence of allergen-specific IgG antibodies in the plasma may influence the results [ 15 ].…”

“…It has been pointed out that whole blood is less stable and functional than the isolated leukocytes, and this considerably reduces its range of use [ 15 ]. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the presence of allergen-specific IgG antibodies in the plasma may influence the results [ 15 ]. This could be an important factor in the patients we studied as the presence of anti-gliadin IgG antibodies in 50% -60% of gluten-sensitive, IBS-like patients has been demonstrated [ 10 , 16 ] and we have demonstrated an evident overlap between patients " classified as gluten-sensitive " and those " classified as suffering from wheat hypersensitivity " [ 10 ].…”

Flow Sitometri ve Kullanım Alanları

“…İmmünofenotiplemenin tıpta kullanım alanları ise lenfoma ve lösemi immünotiplemesi (KLL, ALL, AML, KML), hematolojik hastalıkların belirlenmesi (ITP, nötrofil fonksiyon defektleri), immün yetmezliklerin teşhisi, kemoterapi etkinliğinin izlenmesi, otoimmün hastalıkların tanısı, transplantasyon öncesi ve sonrası hasta durumunun gözlemlenmesi ve allerjik hastalıklarda kullanılmaktadır [21,22,23,24].…”

Basophil Activation Test—Brief Comment and Response

“…Regarding to nomenclature non releaser and nonresponder subject -these two name can be founded in articles [3,4].…”