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Background: Little is known about the involvement of B cells in venom immunotherapy (VIT). To elucidate changes in the B cell phenotype during this process, we examined the expression of several surface molecules on peripheral B cells before and during VIT. Methods: 15 venom-allergic patients with a history of systemic reactions after a wasp sting and venom-specific skin test reactivity as well as serum IgE were investigated before VIT (day 1), 1 day after reaching a maintenance dose of 100 μg (day 6) during inpatient rush VIT, and again on day 26 during continued outpatient maintenance therapy. Changes in the serum levels of total IgE, allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) and sIgG4 were measured by ELISA. Expression of several surface molecules on double-labelled B cells was studied by flow cytometry of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Results: Levels of total IgE, sIgE and sIgG4 showed a significant increase after 26 days of VIT. On day 6, cell surface expression of HLA- II-DR, CD5, CD32 and CD54 was decreased in intensity and numbers of positive cells compared to day 1, while on day 26, expression of these molecules approached again baseline levels. Furthermore, a trend to decreased CD23 was noted on day 6. No changes were observed for CD40, CD86, CD95 and HLA-I-ABC. Conclusion: These data show that during initiation of rush VIT, B cell expression of surface molecules involved in T-B cell cooperation and antigen presentation is downmodulated. B cells may thus be additional direct or indirect targets of high-dose antigen therapy and contribute to the persistence of TH1 responses during maintenance VIT treatment.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) encompasses several distinct patterns of disease which can be distinguished by the type of skin lesions, age of onset, familial occurrence, noncutaneous involvement, associated c-kit mutations, and prognosis. A clear distinction of the type of CM in individual patients has important implications regarding patient management and prognosis.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to clarify the pathomechanisms of fleeting versus more persistent wheals, expression of endothelial adhesion molecules was studied in biopsies of lesional and uninvolved skin of 15 patients with different types of whealing reactions, using immunohistochemistry. In wheals of ⩽ 30 min duration, no increase of ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 was noted. GMP-140 expression was absent in prick tests, but could be demonstrated in lesions of cholinergic and cold urticaria, with a gradual increase of the latter with time. In wheals of ⩾ 6 h duration, GMP-140 was only weakly expressed whereas ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 were markedly up-regulated in lesional and less so in nonlesional skin of acute, chronic recurrent and delayed pressure urticaria. This differential expression of endothelial adhesion molecules may reflect the activity of mast cell-derived and other mediators during the elicitation phase and explains the persistence of wheals in different types of urticaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates a possible correlation between c-kit mutations and the distribution of mast cell and stem cell factor in a lesional skin of mastocytosis. Sources of lesional skin biopsies; Details of clinical and experimental data in sections from mastocytosis patients and normal skin.

Examines the influence of immunoglobulin E on stem cell factor-driven mast cell development from peripheral blood progenitors in normal human donors. Methods; Expression for messenger RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]