Journal of Allergy & Therapy

Joana Guimarães

Publications

• Research Article
  Are Basophils and T helper 2 Cells Implicated in Mastocytosis?
  Author(s): Ana Spínola, Joana Guimarães, Marlene Santos, Catarina Lau, Maria dos Anjos Teixeira, Rosário Alves and Margarida LimaAna Spínola, Joana Guimarães, Marlene Santos, Catarina Lau, Maria dos Anjos Teixeira, Rosário Alves and Margarida Lima
  
  Background: Clinical signs and symptoms observed in patients with mastocytosis are not only related to organ infiltration, but also result of either local or systemic mast cells mediator release. Knowing that mast cells, basophils and T helper 2 (Th2) cells have been implicated in allergy, we hypothesized that basophils and Th2 cells could also be involved in the episodes of mediator release often seen in patients with mastocytosis and, in a small proportion, could be on the bloodstream in an activated mode and/or be over-reactive to stimuli. Methods: We aimed to quantify and characterize, by flow cytometry, the basophil (CD45+dim, CD123+bright, CD294/CRTH2+, CD3- and HLA-DR-), Th2 (CD3+, CD294/CRTH2+) and activated (CD3+, HLA-DR+) T cell populations in the peripheral blood from 19 patients with mastocytosis, as well as the ability of peripheral blood basophils to be activat.. View More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2155-6121.1000192

  Abstract PDF