Basophil activation test by flow cytometry: present and future applications in allergology

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Allergy Diagnostics
• Flow Cytometry

Background:

• Current allergy diagnosis relies on clinical history and specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) tests, but these methods have limitations.
• Not all hypersensitivity reactions are IgE-mediated, and identifying causative allergens can be challenging.
• Existing methods like histamine and sulfidoleukotriene release tests lack comprehensive quality reports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the principles, technical aspects, and applications of flow cytometry for analyzing in vitro activated basophils.
• To highlight the potential of flow cytometry in improving the diagnosis of allergic reactions.
• To address the challenges and pitfalls associated with this diagnostic approach.

Main Methods:

• Basophils are challenged with specific allergens in vitro.
• Secreted mediators and upregulated cell surface markers are quantified.
• Flow cytometry with specific monoclonal antibodies is used for detection.

Main Results:

• Activated basophils secrete quantifiable bioactive mediators.
• Flow cytometry efficiently detects upregulated markers on activated basophils.
• This method provides a sensitive and specific approach to allergy investigation.

Conclusions:

• Flow cytometry-assisted analysis of activated basophils is a promising tool for allergy diagnosis.
• It offers a reliable method for investigating both IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions.
• Further research and quality reports are needed to fully establish its clinical utility.