Basophils, high-affinity IgE receptors, and CCL2 in human anaphylaxis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The role of basophils in anaphylaxis is unclear.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to investigate whether basophils have an important role in human anaphylaxis.

METHODS:

In an emergency department study we recruited 31 patients with acute anaphylaxis, predominantly to Hymenoptera venom. We measured expression of basophil activation markers (CD63 and CD203c); the absolute number of circulating basophils; whole-blood FCER1A, carboxypeptidase A3 (CPA3), and L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC) gene expression; and serum markers (CCL2, CCL5, CCL11, IL-3, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin) at 3 time points (ie, during the anaphylactic episode and in convalescent samples 7 and 30 days later). We recruited 134 patients with Hymenoptera allergy and 76 healthy control subjects for comparison. We then investigated whether the changes observed during venom-related anaphylaxis also occur during allergic reactions to food in 22 patients with peanut allergy undergoing double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge to peanut.

RESULTS:

The number of circulating basophils was significantly lower during anaphylaxis (median, 3.5 cells/μL) than 7 and 30 days later (17.5 and 24.7 cells/μL, P < .0001) and compared with those in patients with venom allergy and healthy control subjects (21 and 23.4 cells/μL, P < .0001). FCER1A expression during anaphylaxis was also significantly lower than in convalescent samples (P ≤ .002) and control subjects with venom allergy (P < .0001). CCL2 levels (but not those of other serum markers) were significantly higher during anaphylaxis (median, 658 pg/mL) than in convalescent samples (314 and 311 pg/mL at 7 and 30 days, P < .001). Peanut-induced allergic reactions resulted in a significant decrease in circulating basophil counts compared with those in prechallenge samples (P = .016), a decrease in FCER1A expression (P = .007), and an increase in CCL2 levels (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings imply an important and specific role for basophils in the pathophysiology of human anaphylaxis.

• Authors: Peter Korosec, Paul J Turner, Mira Silar, Peter Kopac, Mitja Kosnik, Bernhard F Gibbs, Mohamed H Shamji, Adnan Custovic, Matija Rijavec
• Journal: The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology (J Allergy Clin Immunol) Vol. 140 Issue 3 Pg. 750-758.e15 (Sep 2017) ISSN: 1097-6825 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28342911 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Receptors, IgE
• Venoms

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Anaphylaxis (blood, immunology)
• Animals
• Basophils (immunology)
• Cytokines (blood, immunology)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Gene Expression
• Humans
• Hymenoptera (immunology)
• Leukocyte Count
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Peanut Hypersensitivity (immunology)
• Receptors, IgE (immunology)
• Venoms (immunology)
• Young Adult