Radwa G. Diab, Mona M El Temsahy, Eman D. Elkerdany, Maha R. Gaafar
Background: Hypersensitivity to Anisakis species is a worldwide medical problem. The aim of this study was to detect the immunological response in experimental mice, through measurement of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in their lymphocytes by flow cytometry, following the ingestion of Anisakis crude antigen.
Methods and Findings: Sixty Swiss albino mice were divided equally into control and experimental groups, and each of them were further subdivided into five subgroups, six mice each. The percentage of IgE antibodies was measured in the lymphocytes of their splenic suspensions at zero, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th weeks post inoculation using Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) anti – mouse IgE, and were analyzed by FACS Calibur flow cytometer Becton Dickinson equipped with an argon-ion laser apparatus operating at 488 nm. The percentage of IgE antibodies was enhanced in lymphocytes of animals exposed to Anisakis antigen from the first week, peaking three weeks following initial exposure, starting a decline by week five and decreased more by the seventh week, as compared to the control group.
Conclusions: the results obtained from this study proved the efficacy of flow cytometry in detecting the sensitization against Anisakis species through the measurement of IgE antibodies.
