Natural killer T (NKT) cells, a unique subgroup of lymphocytes with features of both T and natural killer (NK) cells, represent a bridge between innate andadaptive immunity. They have the ability to either promote or suppress immune responses. With these immunoregulatory functions, NKT cells have emerged as an important subset of lymphocytes with a protective role in some disorders, such as infections, cancer, and possibly sarcoidosis, and a pathogenic role in others, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Immunotherapeutic interventions to modulate the immune response by targeting iNKT cell functions has become a challenging field and has shown promising results for the development of new therapies.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29152217
Background: New in vitro methods are essential for developing better follow-upcriteria for venom immunotherapy (VIT). Methods: Thirty-one children with a history of honeybee venom-induced systemic anaphylaxis were included inthis prospective, single-blinded study. The basophil CD63 activation test (BAT) was assessed before starting VIT, at the end of the build-up phase (day 5), 6 months later, and after 2-4 yr of VIT. Results: Basophil CD63 activationtest allowed identification of the culprit insect in 74% of honeybeevenom-allergic children. In comparison, IgE reactivity was single positive in only 52% of children. Five days after starting VIT, BAT was highlycomparable to before VIT. However, after 6 months and further after 2-4yr of VIT, a significant and approximately fourfold decrease was demonstrated in CD63 response at sub-maximal 0.1 mug/ml allergen concentration, which mainly represents cellular sensitivity. No such differences were found at a higher 1 mug/ml of allergen concentration. Person-to-person analyses showed that after 2-4 yr of VIT, a marked CD63 decrease was evident in 85% of children. In addition, elevated basophil sensitivity measured before VIT was associated with the appearance of side effects observed during the build-up phase of VIT. Conclusion: Basophil CD63 allergen-specific sensitivity seems to be a promising tool for monitoring protective immune response in honeybee VIT.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29193177
Our results suggest that the current CAP-FEIA rApi m 1 has limited clinical usefulness for the detection of honeybee venom allergy, due to its low diagnostic sensitivity. Thus, improved diagnostic tests are needed.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28926425