ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by allergy to grass pollens. This study was performed in 24 patients with allergy to grass pollens, and in 25 healthy controls. The protocol for allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation consisted of whole blood samples processing and staining with anti-CCR3/anti-CD164 antibodies added to a buffer at the beginning of stimulation. We observed dose-dependent allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation with 100% of specificity in both used allergen concentrations (12 and 1.2 ng/ml). Higher allergen concentration resulted in 100% and lower concentration in only 70.83% sensitivity. We have observed in the patients statistically significant correlations between anti-IgE stimulation and both allergen concentrations (for 12 ng/ml, r = 0.71, p < 0.0001; and for 1.2 ng/ml, r = 0.64, p < 0.001). We conclude that assessment of allergen-induced basophil CD164 upregulation is a very useful method for in vitro determination of allergy to grass pollens. This method seems to be a very promising tool in laboratory testing of allergies to other allergens.
Subject(s)
Basophils/immunology , Poaceae/immunology , Pollen/immunology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/diagnosis , Adult , Biomarkers/blood , Case-Control Studies , Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic , Endolyn/blood , Female , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Male , Predictive Value of Tests , Reproducibility of Results , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/immunology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Time Factors , Up-Regulation , Young AdultABSTRACT
AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3 years oral specific immunotherapy in patients with perannial allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma caused by allergy to mites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with allergic perannial rhinitis entered the study. Ten of them suffered also from bronchial asthma. During 3 years of therapy we have monitored the appearance of side effects, clinical parameters (symptoms degree and medication usage score) and immunological parameters (serum eosinophil cationic protein concentration and leukotriene C4 liberation by peripheral blood leukocytes upon in vitro specific allergens stimulation). RESULTS: We have not observed the appearance of any adverse event, so medication has been recognized as a safe. Moreover, we have observed a lot of positive therapeutical effects--the lowering of symptoms scores, accompanied by advantageous changes in immunological parameters. However, in spite of 3 years of therapy, many patients still reported the substantial clinical symptoms, accompanied by still elevated serum ECP concentration and relatively high leukotriene C4 liberation by peripheral blood leukocytes upon in vitro stimulation by specific allergens. CONCLUSION: Oral specific immunotherapy in the patients with allergic diseases of upper airways is a safe medication but leads only to moderate clinical efficacy accompanied by lowering serum ECP concentration and reducing of leukotrienes C4 liberation by peripheral blood leukocytes stimulated by specific allergens.
Subject(s)
Immunotherapy/methods , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/drug therapy , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/immunology , Administration, Oral , Adult , Animals , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , Eosinophil Cationic Protein/blood , Female , Humans , Leukotriene C4/blood , Male , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/diagnosis , Skin TestsABSTRACT
Histamine is a physiological mediator which exerts both, effector and regulatory influence through its receptors on various cells. In the study we evaluated the expression of histamine receptors (HR) on inflammatory cells (lymphocytes and neutrophils) in glucocorticosteroid sensitive (n. = 17) and resistant (n. = 19) asthmatic patients and healthy subjects (n = 14). Moreover, we examined in vitro the influence of cortisol on HR expression in both studied groups with asthma and in a control group. We concluded that HR expression on lymphocytes was similar in all studied subjects. However, HR expression on neutrophils in both groups of asthmatic patients was significantly decreased compared to the control group. After the in vitro incubation with cortisol, we observed a significant decrease in HR expression on neutrophils (10(-8)-10(-5) M) and lymphocytes (10(-8)-10(-4) M) only in healthy subjects. Taking into consideration that histamine proinflammatory action is mediated by H1 receptor, and that in patients treated with long-time systemic GCS therapy we did not observe any decrease in HR expression in vitro, we suggest additional therapy with the second-generation antihistamines. These drugs not only block H1 receptors, but also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
