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Cord blood leucocytes/basophils produce and release sulfidoleucotrienes in response to allergen stimulation
Author(s) -
Zsolt Szépfalusi,
L. Todoran,
Stefan Elsässer,
Björn Jagdt,
Hans Wank,
R. Urbanek
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1999.00505.x
Subject(s) - immunoglobulin e , allergen , immunology , cord blood , medicine , stimulation , allergy , umbilical cord , antibody , basophil
Background Leucocyte‐derived sulfidoleucotrienes (SLT) from children and adults can be detected in vitro in response to specific allergen stimulation, a mechanism thought to require the presence of allergen‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies on the surface of basophils. It is unknown whether this mechanism is functional in cord blood basophils. Objective We studied the in vitro SLT‐release of leucocytes in response to allergen and anti‐IgE stimulation in term newborns and children with allergic diseases. Methods Cord blood from randomly selected term newborns were analysed for total IgE‐antibodies and in vitro SLT‐release in response to allergen and anti‐IgE stimulation. Children from an allergy outpatient clinic were used as the control group. The Cellular Allergen Stimulation Test (CAST) was used as read‐out system. Allergen stimulation was performed with an allergen‐mix containing 21 nutritive and inhalant allergens. Results Peripheral blood leucocytes/basophils derived from allergic children ( n = 56; median SLT release 1049 pg/mL) were more responsive to anti‐IgE stimulation as cord blood leucocytes/basophils ( n = 104; median 419 pg/mL P < 0.0001). In response to stimulation with an allergen‐mix, the two groups did not differ significantly from each other. Only SLT‐releasability in response to anti‐IgE showed a correlation with cord blood IgE. Conclusions Sulfidoleucotriene‐release of cord blood basophils is functional in response to allergens. It appears possible that cord blood basophils are armed with allergen‐specific IgE‐antibodies though not detectable in serum. Therefore, cord blood SLT‐release may indirectly reflect prenatal priming with allergens with subsequent production of allergen‐specific IgE.