CRD by microarray is a reliable tool for diagnosing latex allergy. In addition, the technique allows discrimination between genuine allergy and sensitization. CRD by microarray can improve the diagnosis of IgE-mediated latex allergy by discriminating between genuine allergy and sensitization. CRD by microarray is a reliable tool to diagnose latex allergy. In addition, the technique allows discrimination between a genuine allergy and simple sensitization.

Hazelnut allergy in a birch-endemic region exhibits age-related sensitization profiles with distinct clinical outcomes that can be identified using CRD. The majority of hazelnut allergic preschool and school children in a birch-endemic region show systemic reactions on consumption of processed hazelnut, mostly being sensitized to the hazelnut legumin-like allergen Cor a 9 but unrelated to birch pollen allergy. In contrast, adults generally suffer from an OAS apparently as a result of cross-reactivity between Cor a 1.04 from hazelnut and Bet v 1 from birch pollen.

Background. The final response that leads to basophil degranulation results from a cross-talk between activatory and inhibitory signals. However, in the context of basophil biology, the inhibitory mechanisms that control these processes are still poorly understood.Aim. To investigate the expression and function of the inhibitory receptor CD300a in human basophils. Methods. Peripheral blood of 20 patients with birch pollen allergy and 10 healthy control individuals were assessed for CD300a expression before and after activation. To study the function of CD300a, basophils were pre-incubated with anti-human CD300a/c monoclonal antibodies and analyzed for the upregulation of the activation marker CD203c and appearance of the degranulation marker CD63 following IgE-dependent and IgE-independent triggering.Results. Basophils from allergic individuals constitutively expressed significantly less CD300a than non-allergics (P 5 0.001). However, after cross-linking with either anti-IgE or recombinant major birch pollen allergen (rBet v 1), basophils from allergic patients demonstrated a significant and rapid (3 min) up-regulation of CD300a expression in all activated basophils that persisted for over 2 h (P < 0.05). Moreover, CD300a expression was significantly higher in the CD203c bright1 CD63 bright1 subpopulation than in CD203c bright1 CD63 2 cells (P < 0.05). In both patients and controls, pre-incubation with antiCD300a/c significantly inhibited IgE-mediated CD63 expression (P < 0.05), though it did not affect CD203c. In contrast, IgE-independent basophil activation was not inhibited by CD300a/c engagement.Conclusion. CD300a is expressed on human peripheral blood basophils and rapidly up-regulated upon cross-linking of IgE/FceRI and suppresses anaphylactic degranulation. V C 2011 International Clinical Cytometry Society

At first glance, CRD by microarray seems to be a reliable instrument in the diagnosis of apple-mediated OAS in birch pollen allergy. However, for discriminating between sensitization and a real allergy, micro-arrayed rMal d 1 offers no advantage over conventional quantification of rMal d 1 sIgE. Most interestingly, within a single run, birch pollen-allergic patients without OAS to apple were shown to display a broader sensitization to classical inhalant allergens than birch pollen-allergic patients with an apple-related OAS.