Blood basophils from cystic fibrosis patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis are primed and hyper-responsive to stimulation by aspergillus allergens

Introduction: Fifteen to sixty percent of cystic fibrosis patients harbor Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) in their airways (CF-AC) and some will develop allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (CF-ABPA). Since basophils play a key role in allergy, we hypothesized that they would display alterations in CF-ABPA patients compared to CF-AC or patients without Af colonization (CF). Methods: Using flow cytometry, we measured CD203c, CD63 and CD123 levels on basophils from CF-ABPA (N=11), CF-AC (N=14), and CF (N=12) patients before and after ex vivo stimulation with Af allergens. Results: Baseline CD203c was increased in basophils from CF-ABPA compared to CF-AC and CF patients. Af extract and recombinant Aspfl stimulated basophils from CF-ABPA patients to markedly upregulate CD203c, along with modest upregulation of CD63 and a CD 123 downward trend. Plasma TARC/CCL17 at baseline and post-stimulation cell supernatant histamine levels were similar in the three groups. Conclusions: In CF-ABPA, blood basophils are primed and hyperresponsive to Af allergen stimulation. (C) 2012 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.