Multiplex basophil activation tests for allergy diagnosis: present and future applications.

The basophil activation test (BAT) has become a major cellular test for evaluating the allergenic activity of specific IgEs. The impact of the BAT is due to the ability of blood basophil granulocytes to present IgE on the high-affinity FcRI receptor and to mirror the mast cell response that elicits an acute allergic reaction. The BAT proved to be able to identify allergic patients at risk of reacting to a low dose of the allergen and/or developing life-threatening reactions and thus can significantly improve the current management of allergic patients.

Molecular allergy diagnosis enabling personalized medicine.

Allergic patients are characterized by complex and patient-specific IgE sensitization profiles to various allergens, which are accompanied by different phenotypes of allergic disease. Molecular allergy (MA) diagnosis establishes the patient's IgE reactivity profile at a molecular allergen level and has moved allergology into the "Precision Medicine" era. Molecular allergology started in the late 1980s with the isolation of the first allergen-encoding DNA sequences.

Cellular and Humoral Response After Induction of Protection and After Finishing Venom Immunotherapy.

venom allergy (HVA) is an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction caused by species stings (honeybee, vespid, or ant). The only effective treatment is venom immunotherapy (VIT). Our study aimed to evaluate whether humoral and cellular biomarkers measured before, during, and after honeybee VIT are associated with the success of VIT, which was assessed by the response to a sting challenge one year after finishing VIT.

Targeting of the IL-5 pathway in severe asthma reduces mast cell progenitors.

Background: Therapies targeting IL-5 or its receptor (IL-5Rα) are currently used to treat patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Objective: We sought to investigate the impact of anti-IL-5 and anti-IL-5Rα biological therapies on mast cells (MCs) and their progenitors.

Methods: Surface IL-5Rα expression was investigated on MCs and their progenitors in mouse lungs and bone marrow and in human lungs and blood.

Autoimmune Mast Cell Activation Test as a Diagnostic Tool in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is associated with skin mast cell activation, and its triggering mechanisms are not completely elucidated. Evidence suggests an autoimmune component of CSU. Our aim was to assess the usefulness of an autoimmune mast cell activation test (aiMAT) for diagnosing and differentiating CSU into different subtypes.