Rhinitis symptoms caused by grass pollen are associated with elevated basophile allergen sensitivity and a larger grass‐specific immunoglobulin E fraction
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The mechanisms responsible for the difference between clinically irrelevant IgE-sensitization and allergic rhinitis are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the humoral and cellular mechanisms that may be associated with the presence of allergic rhinitis symptoms. METHODS: We selected 26 subjects with positive grass pollen skin tests and IgE antibodies to Timothy (g6) and the major grass allergens rPhl p 1, 5b. Fourteen of those patients reported a history of allergic rhinitis. During winter, we performed a grass pollen CD63 basophile activation test using four log allergen concentrations, followed by a grass nasal provocation test (NPT). We obtained symptom scores in the subsequent pollination season. RESULTS: We showed that subjects with a positive NPT have significantly higher CD63 basophile grass pollen responsiveness than NPT-negative subjects, preferably at submaximal allergen concentrations, which represent cellular sensitivity. Moreover, basophile sensitivity positively correlated with the size of the grass-specific IgE fraction in relation to total IgE, and it was highly predictive of allergic rhinitis symptoms in the following pollination season. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Allergic rhinitis symptoms are significantly associated with allergen-specific basophile sensitivity. In vitro evaluation of basophile sensitivity should prove useful for distinguishing clinical phenotype of allergic sensitization.
Source: Clinical & Experimental Allergy
Authors: M. Zidarn, M. Košnik, M. Šilar, A. Grahek, P. Korošec
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology and Allergy
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2122166675