Basophils as critical orchestrators of Th2-type immune responses

Basophils are relatively rare leukocytes that potentially play a role in both systemic anaphylaxis and, owing to their ability to migrate from the blood into various other tissues, in more localized aspects of allergic inflammation. Given their greater sensitivities to allergen provocation compared with their tissue-fixed mast cell counterparts, and by virtue of their capacity to more readily generate Th2-type cytokines, basophils have been considered to play more than a bystander role in initiating and maintaining allergic disorders. However, only very recently has clearer evidence shed light on the abilities of this cell type to orchestrate chronic allergic inflammation and promote Th2 immunity in the early induction stages of allergy. This review summarizes these recent advances in understanding the role of basophils in orchestrating and maintaining allergic responses.     

过敏性输血反应的原因分析及检测方法

<正>免疫相关非溶血性输血反应包括过敏反应、发热反应、输血后紫癜、输血相关移植物抗宿主病,输血相关急性肺损伤等。其中过敏反应发生率在近年来国内外报道中均高于其他种类输血反应。输血相关过敏反应(allergic transfusion reactions,ATRs)的临床表现症状有:荨麻疹、瘙痒、皮肤红斑、潮红、血管性水肿、支气管痉挛、肺水肿、血压下降以及过敏性休克等,一些症状主要累及局部组织器官发生过敏性炎症,药物治疗有效,但也会存在     

Mast cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells are useful for allergen tests

Background

Several methods have been developed to detect allergen-specific IgE in sera. The passive IgE sensitization assay using human IgE receptor-expressing rat cell line RBL-2H3 is a powerful tool to detect biologically active allergen-specific IgE in serum samples. However, one disadvantage is that RBL-2H3 cells are vulnerable to high concentrations of human sera. Only a few human cultured cell lines are easily applicable to the passive IgE sensitization assay. However, the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate human mast cells (MCs) has not yet been reported.

Passive sensitization of basophil leukocytes from a non-atopic adult by plasma from allergic children

Basophil leukocytes from a non-atopic donor, who responded well to anti-IgE, were depleted of their native membrane-bound IgE by acid treatment and passively sensitized with plasma containing either Phleum pratense-, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus- or dog dander- specific IgE obtained from 18 allergic children. Histamine release was then performed on the passively sensitized cells and the results were compared with those of bronchial provocation test (BPT), allergen-specific serum IgE (RAST), skin prick test (SPT), and conventional histamine release test (HR). A high coincidence rate was found between BPT, RAST and histamine release after passive sensitization (HR-PS), but compared to HR, it was lower. This could be because several of the patients had non-responding basophils (i.e. no release after challenge with anti-IgE) in the conventional histamine release assay. The lower rate was not related to a lack of antigen-specific IgE, since after passive sensitization of basophils, anti-IgE and allergen provocation could induce release. It is concluded that plasma from allergic children with non-responding basophil leukocytes contain antigen-specific IgE capable of binding to Fc-receptors on the basophils of a non-atopic donor. In addition it was found that the plasma could change the cell reactivity (maximal histamine release) of the donor cells, since the amount of histamine released varied according to the plasma used for passive sensitization. The lack of histamine release response in some patients could be because their own membrane-bound IgE is unable to induce mediator release or, more likely, activation of one or more of the subcellular steps involved in the release is impaired.     

免疫诊断在哮喘免疫治疗中的意义

128例哮喘患者按皮试,ELISA测定血清中特异性IgE值和嗜碱粒细胞脱颗粒试验(HBDT)对粉尘螨检出情况随机分为二组,治疗组用粉尘螨浸液作免疫治疗,每周一次,共六个月。对照组以对症药物治疗。结果表明HBDT判定为阳性者有效率最高达92.59%,其次为ELISA,有效率为83.33%,皮试的有效率最低,为79.41%,但均明显高于对照组。治疗组内HBDT判定为阳性者的有效率明显高于阴性者,而ELISA和皮试判定为阳性者的有效率虽高于阴性者,但无显著差异。     

Targeting granulocyte apoptosis: mechanisms,models, and therapies

Summary: The inflammatory process is a complex series of tightly controlled cellular and biochemical events initiated by the immune system, which has evolved to eliminate or contain infectious agents and to repair damaged tissue. Apoptosis is essential for the clearance of potentially injurious inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils, and the subsequent efficient resolution of inflammation. In this review, we aim to cover key features of the granulocyte life-cycle ranging from their differentiation within the bone marrow to their maturation and ultimate clearance, with a focus on granulocyte apoptosis and macrophage efferocytosis. We further aim to discuss current and emerging models of inflammation and suggest novel ways of terminating or resolving deleterious inflammatory responses with a specific view to the translation of these strategies into fully realized, pro-resolution therapies.