Novel aspects of mast cell and basophil function: Highlights from the 9th meeting of the European Mast Cell and Basophil Research Network (EMBRN)—A Marcus Wallenberg Symposium

Novel aspects of mast cell and basophil function : Highlights from the 9th meeting of the European Mast Cell and Basophil Research Network (EMBRN)-A Marcus Wallenberg Symposium.


Novel aspects of mast cell and basophil function: Highlights from the 9th meeting of the European Mast Cell and Basophil Research Network (EMBRN)-A Marcus Wallenberg Symposium
Mast cells and basophils are important members of the immune system. Both of these cell types are implicated in allergic responses, being strongly responsive to activation/degranulation through allergen-induced crosslinking of IgE molecules bound to their high-affinity cell surface receptors (FcεRI). However, there have been intense research efforts during the past decades where the roles of mast cells and basophils in many contexts beyond allergy have been explored. These efforts have formed the basis for a much more complex view of the biology of these cell types. 1 For example, mast cells and basophils are strongly implicated in pruritus, cancer, various autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammation, urticaria, transplantation, wound healing, obesity, infertility and fibrosis. [2][3][4][5][6][7] In all of these conditions, mast cells and basophils have predominantly detrimental functions, but they are also known to have beneficial functions, most notably in the host protection against bacterial, fungal and parasitic insults, and against envenomation. [7][8][9] The state-of-the-art regarding these issues was recently dis- -independent mechanisms. Further, anti-mast cell/basophil therapies using anti-IgE biologicals such as omalizumab and ligelizumab and treatments that target inhibitory receptors were discussed.
Novel strategies for inducing selective mast cell apoptosis were also presented, and mast cell apoptosis as a mechanism of maintaining skin homoeostasis was addressed.
Altogether, the 9th meeting of the (EMBRN) provided a comprehensive update in the field of mast cell/basophil biology. We anticipate that multiple new research initiatives will be taken as a result of the findings presented at the meeting and we also foresee that multiple novel collaborative efforts will be emanating from the meeting, altogether giving rise to joint publications and joint initiatives for grant applications.

Mass spectrometry confirmation that clinically important peanut protein allergens are present in household dust
To the editor The route of exposure of peanut in the first year appears to be crucial in determining whether peanut allergy or tolerance develops.
Epicutaneous peanut exposure via an inflamed disrupted skin barrier increases the risk of peanut allergy. 1 Furthermore, there is evidence that perinatal exposure to peanut in dust is associated with the development of peanut sensitization and allergy in children with a disrupted skin barrier. 2 Environmental exposure to peanut in early life is therefore an important factor to quantify and consider in the development of peanut allergy. Previous studies have quantified peanut protein (using a polyclonal whole peanut protein ELISA) and specific peanut allergens (using a monoclonal Ara h 1 ELISA) in household dust and surfaces. 2,3 Studies linking peanut protein in dust to peanut sensitization used an ELISA employing a polyclonal antibody which has been validated for sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility with regards analysis of dust samples 4 ; however, given the specificity of the ELISA, 5,6 it does not confirm the presence of peanut allergens (eg, Ara h 2) and isoforms thereof.
We therefore used mass spectrometry (MS) to confirm the presence of peanut proteins present in dust samples previously indicated by ELISA and characterize the repertoire of peanut allergens present.
Dust samples were collected from UK households using a method previously described 4 ; they had high (n = 2, infant's play-area Abbreviations: ELISAs, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; FDR, False Discovery Rate; HPLC, High Performance Liquid Chromatography; MS, Mass spectrometry.