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Basophil Activation Test Utility as a Diagnostic Tool in LTP Allergy

Publicated to:International Journal Of Molecular Sciences. 23 (9): 4979- - 2022-05-01 23(9), DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094979

Authors: Canas, Jose A; Perez-Sanchez, Natalia; Lopera-Doblas, Leticia; Palomares, Francisca; Molina, Ana; Bartra, Joan; Torres, Maria J; Gomez, Francisca; Mayorga, Cristobalina

Affiliations

Andalusian Ctr Nanomed & Biotechnol BIONAND - Author
Hosp Reg Univ Malaga, Allergy Clin Unit - Author
Inst Invest Biomed Malaga IBIMA, Allergy Res Grp - Author
Inst Invest Biomed Pi & Sunyer IDIBAPS ARADyAL, Clin & Expt Resp Immunoallergy IRCE - Author
Univ Malaga UMA, Med Dept - Author
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Abstract

Plant-food allergy is an increasing problem, with nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) triggering mild/severe reactions. Pru p 3 is the major sensitizer in LTP food allergy (FA). However, in vivo and in vitro diagnosis is hampered by the need for differentiating between asymptomatic sensitization and allergy with clinical relevance. The basophil activation test (BAT) is an ex vivo method able to identify specific IgE related to the allergic response. Thus, we aimed to establish the value of BAT in a precise diagnosis of LTP-allergic patients. Ninety-two individuals with peach allergy sensitized to LTP, Pru p 3, were finally included, and 40.2% of them had symptoms to peanut (n = 37). In addition, 16 healthy subjects were recruited. BAT was performed with Pru p 3 and Ara h 9 (peanut LTP) at seven ten-fold concentrations, and was evaluated by flow cytometry, measuring the percentage of CD63 (%CD63(+)) and CD203c (%CD203c(high)) cells, basophil allergen threshold sensitivity (CD-Sens), and area under the dose-response curve (AUC). Significant changes in BAT parameters (%CD63(+) and %CD203c(high)) were found between the controls and patients. However, comparisons for %CD63(+), %CD203c(high), AUC, and CD-Sens showed similar levels among patients with different symptoms. An optimal cut-off was established from ROC curves, showing a significant positive percentage of BAT in patients compared to controls and great values of sensitivity (>87.5%) and specificity (>85%). In addition, BAT showed differences in LTP-allergic patients tolerant to peanut using its corresponding LTP, Ara h 9. BAT can be used as a potential diagnostic tool for identifying LTP allergy and for differentiating peanut tolerance, although neither reactivity nor sensitivity can distinguish the severity of the clinical symptoms.

Keywords

AllergenAllergensArachisBasophilBasophil activation testBasophil degranulation testBasophilsCd-sensDiagnosisFlow cytometryFood allergyFood hypersensitivityHumanHumansIge-sensitizationImmunoglobulin eLipid transfer proteinMetabolismNonspecific lipid transfer proteinsPeach allergyProceduresProfilesPru p 3SeveritySkin prick testsThreshold-sensitivity

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal International Journal Of Molecular Sciences due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position 66/285, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.35. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.6 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 4.22 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-26, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 16
  • Scopus: 20
  • Europe PMC: 4
  • OpenCitations: 12

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-26:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 31.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 31 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.