MELISA—an in vitro tool for the study of metal allergy

Stejskal, Věra; Cederbrant, Karin; Lindvall, Anders; Forsbeck, Margit

doi:10.1016/0887-2333(94)90233-x

Cited by 80 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…has been elaborated by Stejskal et al [206,207] and applied to drug-related al lergies. but it is presently being evaluated as a tool for the assessment of metal allergy [184], MELISA also takes ad vantage of the morphological assessment o f blastogenesis, thus improving its accuracy. It is therefore a method that, when compared to the patch test, may better discriminate between toxic and allergic reactions to metals [184],…”

Section: In Vitro Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Amalgam Affect the Immune System? A Controversial Issue (Part 2 of 2)

Eneström¹,

Hultman²

1995

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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Although in use for more than 150 years, dental amalgam has been questioned more or less vigorously as a dental restoration material due to its alleged health hazard. Humans are exposed to mercury and the other main dental amalgam metals (Ag, Sn, Cu, Zn) via vapour, corrosion products in swallowed saliva, and direct absorption into the blood from the oral cavity. Dental amalgam fillings are the most important source of mercury exposure in the general population. Local, and in some instances, systemic hypersensitivity reactions to dental amalgam metals, especially mercury, occur at a low frequency among amalgam bearers. Experimental and clinical data strongly indicate that these and other subclinical systemic adverse immunological reactions to dental amalgam metals in humans will be linked to certain MHC genotypes, and affect only a small number of the exposed individuals. These individuals will be very difficult to detect in a mixed population of susceptible and resistant individuals, including persons with alleged symptoms due to dental amalgam fillings, where many of the individuals are likely to suffer from conditions with no proven immunological background such as multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Intensified studies should be performed to identify such susceptible MHC genotypes, taking advantage of the reported cases of more heavily metal-exposed humans with systemic autoimmune reactions. Further studies will also be needed to ascertain whether the combined exposure to the metals in dental amalgam may lower the threshold for adverse immunological reactions, since recent studies have shown that the metals in alloy, especially silver, may induce autoimmunity in genetically susceptible mice.

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Section: In Vitro Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Amalgam Affect the Immune System? A Controversial Issue (Part 2 of 2)

Eneström¹,

Hultman²

1995

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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“…The nonadherent cells were then diluted to 1 x lO'Vml in RPMI medium, as in LTT below, and culti vated for 5 days in 1-ml cultures using 48-wcll plates (Costar, Cambridge, Mass., USA) prccoatcd with 100 pi antigen in sterile wa ter. The following antigens were used: Na3Au(S20j)2 and PdCL, 6.25, 3.12 and 1.56 pg/ml, respectively, and N iC L x6 H:0 , 10, 5 and 2.5 pg/ ml, as recommended with the MELISA test [10]. PPD (purified pro tein derivative, Statens Seruminstitut, Denmark) was used at I pg/ml as a positive control since the majority of the Swedish population has been immunized with bacillus Calmette-Guerin.…”

Section: Melisamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The MELISA procedure was performed and evaluated as earlier described [10]. Briefly, venous blood was defibrinated by shaking and mononuclear cells were prepared on Ficoll gradients (Pharmacia, Swe den).…”

Section: Melisamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) is often used [3][4][5][6][7][8] but has still not proved capable of replacing the patch test. MELISA® (memory lymphocyte iinmunostimulation assay), a modi fied LTT, has recently been patented [9] and claimed as a diagnostic in vitro test for metal allergy [10]. However, it has not previously been compared to conventional LTT in a controlled blinded study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In vitro Lymphocyte Proliferation as Compared to Patch Test Using Gold, Palladium and Nickel

Cederbrant

Hultman

Marcusson

et al. 1997

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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Background: A conventional lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) was compared to the commercially available MELISA® (memory lymphocyte immuno-stimulation assay), a lymphoproliferative assay that has been suggested to be a valuable instrument for the diagnosis of metal allergy. Sensitivity and specificity of the two assays were calculated using a patch test as a reference method. Methods: 34 patients were patch-tested for gold sodium thiosulfate, palladium chloride and nickel sulfate, and the lymphocyte proliferation to these metals was tested in vitro using mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. Results: No significant differences regarding sensitivity and specificity were found between MELISA and conventional LTT. The sensitivity varied between 55 and 95% and the specificity between 17 and 79%. Conclusions: The low specificity of the two in vitro assays suggests that they are not useful for diagnosis of contact allergy to the metals gold, palladium and nickel, since a large number of false-positive results will be obtained.

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“…The memory lymphocyte immunostimulation assay, a lymphoproliferative assay, had been suggested by Stejskal et al [78] as a valuable instrument for the diagnosis of metal allergy. It is a modification of the LTT, specifically adapted to the study of lymphocyte reactivity to metals.…”

Section: Review Of Mechanism Of Lttmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnostic Testing for Nickel Allergic Hypersensitivity: Patch Testing versus Lymphocyte Transformation Test

Hostýnek

Reagan²,

Maibach

2002

Exog Dermatol

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This review evaluates the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) as an in vitro alternative to the traditional patch testing. Patch test results require knowledge, practice and experience for correct biological and clinical interpretation, and in spite of long-term use, the method is fraught with technical and interpretative limitations. Nickel in particular is an allergen eliciting false-positive reactions in patch testing due to the irritancy of test materials; it is sometimes difficult to distinguish an irritant reaction from a true allergic response, and patients may need to be tested more than once. Also false-negative reactions can occur due to varying sensitivity of the patient. It therefore appears reasonable to search for a more objective, in vitro alternative; the LTT appears one procedure which gives relatively reliable results. Still, at this point this method can only be used in association with patch testing, and it has often given results inconsistent with the patch test.

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MELISA—an in vitro tool for the study of metal allergy

Cited by 80 publications

References 29 publications

Does Amalgam Affect the Immune System? A Controversial Issue (Part 2 of 2)

Does Amalgam Affect the Immune System? A Controversial Issue (Part 2 of 2)

In vitro Lymphocyte Proliferation as Compared to Patch Test Using Gold, Palladium and Nickel

Diagnostic Testing for Nickel Allergic Hypersensitivity: Patch Testing versus Lymphocyte Transformation Test

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