Development of an allergy test model: activation of human mast cells with potentially allergenic substances

Due to the permanent increase of newly developed and already existing allergies, simple, quick, and reliable test models for detecting potentially allergenic substances are still required. Here, we describe the development of a new in vitro allergy test based on isolated primary mast cells (MC) of non-allergic patients from lung tissue and foreskin specimens, respectively. To establish the specificity of the test model we used primary MC stimulated with immunoglobulin E (IgE), human recombinant stem cell factor (hrSCF), and anti-IgE antibodies to release significant amounts of histamine indicating the ability of MC to cause a hypersensitivity reaction of the immediate type. The general applicability of this test model for detecting allergenic substances could be confirmed by histamine release of primary MC stimulated with sera of patients suffering from house dust allergy, and the corresponding antigen Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The results of the present work suggest that this newly developed human in vitro model provides the opportunity of testing substances for their allergenic potential within days and at low costs. This could also be of particular interest for newly produced compounds.