In vitro basophil activation using CD63 expression in patients with bee and wasp venom allergy

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Insect Venom Allergy Diagnosis
• Cellular Immunology

Background:

• Diagnosis of insect venom allergy relies on history, skin tests, and specific IgE antibodies.
• Cellular tests offer additional diagnostic information, but basophil activation tests (BAT) require further elucidation for various venoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate positive reactions in a basophil activation test (BAT) using CD63 expression as a marker for bee or wasp venom in patients with hymenoptera allergy.
• To assess the reliability of BAT in diagnosing insect venom allergies and identifying cross-reactivity.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-seven patients with a history of insect venom anaphylaxis were studied.
• Basophil activation test (BAT) using CD63 expression was performed after stimulation with bee and wasp venom.
• Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of activated basophils via double staining with anti-IgE and anti-CD63 antibodies.

Main Results:

• In bee venom allergy patients, BAT showed 100% positivity for bee venom and 75% for wasp venom.
• In wasp venom allergy patients, 97% reacted positively to wasp venom and 56% to bee venom.
• Patients with allergy to both venoms showed 100% positive reactions for both.

Conclusions:

• The basophil activation test (BAT) is a reliable in vitro diagnostic tool for hymenoptera venom allergy.
• BAT results reflect both sensitization status and cross-reactivity between bee and wasp venom species.
• CD63 expression serves as an effective marker for basophil activation in diagnosing insect venom allergies.