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Published on: May 19, 2020
Robust expression of CCR3 as a single basophil selection marker in flow cytometry
O V Hausmann1, T Gentinetta, M Fux
1Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Inselspital, University Bern, Bern, Switzerland. oliver.hausmann@insel.ch
Allergy
|July 9, 2010
Summary
CCR3 is a stable and reliable marker for identifying basophils in allergy testing, outperforming IgE and CD123/HLA-DR. This finding improves the accuracy of basophil activation tests (BAT) across different patient groups.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergy Diagnostics
- Flow Cytometry
Background:
- Basophil activation tests (BAT) utilize various markers for basophil selection and activation.
- While activation markers like CD63 are validated, optimal basophil selection markers remain debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cell surface expression of commonly used basophil selection markers (IgE, CD123/HLA-DR) with CCR3.
- To evaluate these markers in both atopic and nonatopic donors, under resting and activated basophil conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of EDTA blood from 94 healthy adults (half atopic) using distinct staining strategies.
- Assessment of CCR3 expression in 40 pollen-allergic patients post-basophil activation.
Main Results:
- CCR3 demonstrated the most consistent cell surface expression in resting basophils.
- The IgE gating strategy exhibited high variability, including up to 80% non-basophils.
- CCR3 expression shifts during activation but does not impede cell identification or analysis.
Conclusions:
- CCR3 is a stable, highly expressed basophil selection marker, suitable for accurate identification regardless of atopy or activation state.
- CD123/HLA-DR and IgE show greater interindividual variability, making them less ideal selection markers.
