Passive transfer of cutaneous mosquito-bite hypersensitivity by IgE anti-saliva antibodies

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 94; no. 5; pp. 902 - 906
• Main Authors: Reunala, Timo, Brummer-Korvenkontio, Henrikki, Räsänen, Liisa, François, Guido, Palosuo, Timo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.11.1994
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies - immunology; basophil histamine release test; Basophils - metabolism; Child; Culicidae; Diptera; Histamine Release; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Immunoblotting; Immunoglobulin E - immunology; Insect Bites and Stings - immunology; Intradermal Tests; Male; Mosquito allergy, IgE and IgG 4 antibodies, Prausnitz-Küstner test; Saliva - immunology; Skin - immunology; Mosquito allergy, IgE and IgG 4 antibodies, Prausnitz-Küstner test; WBE; basophil histamine release test; BHRT; P-K
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(94)90158-9

Background: Mosquito bites frequently cause cutaneous wheal and flare reactions, and recent immunoblotting studies have shown specific anti-saliva IgE antibodies in many persons who have such reactions. Objective: The study was designed to show that human serum containing mosquito saliva-specific IgE antibodies can produce histamine release in vitro and whealing in vivo. Methods: Two mosquito bite-tolerant subjects had bite challenges and Prausnitz-Küstner tests with heated and unheated serum from one patient with Aedes mosquito allergy. Immunoblotting and basophil histamine release tests were performed with the patient's and subjects' sera. Results: Both mosquito bite-tolerant subjects had positive Prausnitz-Küstner reactions, which indicated a successful transfer of cutaneous mosquito hypersensitivity. The ordinary and passive basophil histamine release tests also produced positive results with Aedes communis antigens. Conclusion: The results of the Prausnitz-Küstner test, immunoblotting, and basophil histamine release tests are consistent with the hypothesis that mosquito bite whealing is mediated by specific anti-saliva IgE antibodies.