Because the mast cells are homogeneous and propagated from a single human mast cell, 9 sensitized with plasma from different subjects, and washed before allergen stimulation, the MAT is well suited as an in vitro model to study the functional characteristics of IgE.Įxamples of intrinsic functional characteristics of IgE likely to influence effector cell degranulation in response to allergen are specificity, specific activity (SA), diversity, and affinity. 6, 7 The mast cell activation test (MAT) is also more specific than sIgE alone 8 and has the advantage of not requiring fresh blood like the BAT. 5 A possible explanation for the superiority of BAT in reflecting individuals’ food-allergic phenotype is that it considers all characteristics of sIgE, rather than only levels, as well as possible blocking antibodies and intrinsic basophil sensitivity. 3, 4 Alongside component testing, in vitro effector cell assays, such as the basophil activation test (BAT), have shown better diagnostic accuracy and discrimination between allergic and sensitized but tolerant individuals. 1, 2 For some foods, including peanut, sIgE testing has improved dramatically over recent years through incorporation of allergen components. Allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) detection as a diagnostic tool reports many false-positives.
0 kommentar(er)
