and phosphorylated p38 MAPK to constitute a novel read-out (1). The authors would like to thank Ms Christel Mertens for her skilful technical assistance and Hans-Jo¨rg Bu¨hring (Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Haematology, Immunology and Oncology, University of Tu¨bingen, Germany) for kindly providing the CD203c antibodies. *Department of Immunology – Allergology – Rheumatology University of Antwerp Campus Drie Eiken T401 Universiteitsplein 1 B 2610 Antwerpen Belgium Tel.: ++ 32 (0) 3 8202595 Fax: ++ 32 (0) 3 8202655 E-mail: immuno@ua.ac.be Accepted for publication 8 February 2008 Allergy 2008: 63:941–942 Ó 2008 The Authors Journal compilation Ó 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01700.x References 1. Ebo DG, Dombrecht EJ, Bridts CH, Aerts NE, de Clerck LS, Stevens WJ. Combined analysis of intracellular signalling and immunophenotype of human peripheral blood basophils by flow cytometry: a proof of concept. Clin Exp Allergy 2007;37: 1668–1675. 2. 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Systemic acyclovir reaction subsequent to acyclovir contact allergy: which systemic antiviral drug should then be used? Contact Dermatitis 2003;49:155–157. 9. Bayrou O, Gaouar H, Leynadier F. Famciclovir as a possible alternative treatment in some cases of allergy to acyclovir. Contact Dermatitis 2000;42:42. 10. Khunda A, Kawsar M, Parkin JM, Forster GE. Successful use of valciclovir in a case of recurrent urticaria associated with genital herpes. Sex Transm Infect 2002;78:468. 11. Ebo DG, Sainte-Laudy J, Bridts CH, Mertens CH, Hagendorens MM, Schuerwegh AJ et al. Flow-assisted allergy diagnosis: current applications and future perspectives. Allergy 2006;61:1028–1039. The secretory tailpiece isoform of IgE is not associated with Allergy A. Aslam*, R. J. Lewis, A. Wheatley, R. J. Pleass, I. Sayers Key words: atopy; hayfever; IgE; IgE tailpiece. Atopy, an exaggerated IgE-mediated immune response, is a common feature in many inflammatory diseases, including bronchial asth- ma and allergic rhinitis (hayfe- ver). Type-I hypersensitivity reactions under- lying all atopic conditions and indicators, such as positive skin prick tests to common environmental allergens, correlate well with increased IgE levels in serum or plasma (1, 2). Tailpiece (IgE-tp) is a novel secreted isoform of IgE, formed by alternative splicing of the e gene locus, whose precise role in inflammation is unknown (3, 4). Our preliminary study herein has for the first time attempted to address the role of IgE-tp in the inflam- matory process. Using indirect sandwich ELISAs specific for either IgE-tp or total IgE, we have investigated their levels in plasma from atopic and non-atopic sub- jects. Plasma was obtained from three cohorts (n = 80, 33 and 34, respectively). These subjects were originally recruited as families with two siblings with doctor- diagnosed asthma (5). In the current analyses, cohort 1 represents the parents (mean age = 42.7 ± 10.1), cohort 2 asthma sibling A (mean age = 15.3 ± 9.2) and cohort 3 asthma sibling B (mean age = 13.7 ± 9.6). For quantifying IgE-tp and total IgE, ELISA plates were coated with a tp-specific mAb (367) and an anti-ce2 mAb (4.15), respectively. Wells were then incubated with plasma preceded by incubation with a polyclonal anti-human IgE-Fce antibody (Serotec)- conjugated to HRP. IgE levels were compared to atopy data (as assessed by subjects suffering from hayfever (ques- tionnaire) or with positive skin prick tests to common allergens (e.g. Derp1, Feld1). Total IgE levels were significantly in- creased in atopic subjects when compared with control subjects for all the three cohorts (Fig. 1A and C). This was not the case with IgE-tp, with similar levels observed in all subjects (Fig. 1B and D). Measurements of lung function [includ- ing forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ), FEV 1 /forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio and bronchial hyper- responsiveness (BHR)] were also com- pared with the IgE levels for cohorts 2 and 3; however, no significant correla- tions were observed with either isoform (data not shown). Lung function data were not available for cohort 1. Our preliminary studies have con- firmed the previous observations that total IgE in plasma or serum samples from atopic subjects is elevated (1, 2). This was not, however, accompanied with an increase in IgE-tp, suggesting that the Th2-type inflammatory responses observed in allergy occur through other isoforms of IgE (3, 4). Though lung function data did not cor- relate with total IgE levels, there were trends for differences in bronchial hyper- responsiveness in cohorts 2 and 3. Higher numbers of subjects in each group may well elicit a better relationship between Levels of IgE tailpiece isoform are unchanged in atopy and may not be a major determinant of allergic inflammation. ALLERGY Net Ó 2008 The Authors 942 Journal compilation Ó 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard Allergy 2008: 63: 941–950