Food anaphylaxis mechanisms

Food anaphylaxis is a life-threating condition, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Previous studies from our group suggest that (1) prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has a protective role in anaphylaxis, (2) anaphylaxis patients have a normal baseline production of PGE2, (3) basophils of anaphylaxis patients have a disbalanced expression of PGE2 receptors. Our main goals are (1) to identify the expression profile of PGE2 receptors and study their role in the allergic response using an in vitro model of primary basophils and mast cells of food-anaphylaxis patients, (2) to study PGE2/PGD2 release from primary mast cells and basophils and (3) to evaluate the effect of anaphylaxis patients' serum on cell activation. For this purpose, mast cells and basophils from blood samples of anaphylaxis patients will be obtained, and they will be compared to basophils/mast cells of healthy individuals and food allergic patients with no anaphylaxis.