Method and kit for detection of autoimmune chronic urticaria

1. A method to monitor an individual's response to treatment of autoimmune chronic urticaria, wherein the individual has previously been diagnosed as having autoimmune chronic urticaria, the method comprising:

a) contacting cells with a test biological sample from the individual before administering the treatment, wherein the cells are capable of expressing CD203c and FcεRIα, and upregulate the expression of CD203c upon stimulation of the FcεRIα, and wherein the cells are provided as present in a whole blood sample from a donor or as present in peripheral blood cells from a donor;

b) contacting cells with a test biological sample from the individual after administering the treatment, wherein the cells are capable of expressing CD203c and FcεRIα, and upregulate the expression of CD203c upon stimulation of the FcεRIα, and

wherein the cells are provided as present in a whole blood sample from a donor or as present in peripheral blood cells from a donor; and

c) detecting expression of CD203c on the cells from steps (a) and (b), wherein statistically significant upregulation of CD203c on the cells in the presence of the test biological sample before administering the treatment, as compared to CD203c expression on the cells in the presence of the test biological sample after administering the treatment, indicates that the individual is responding to the treatment;

wherein the upregulation of CD203c occurs due to stimulation of FcεRIαby functional anti-FcεRIα autoantibodies present in the test biological sample, and wherein the test biological sample is a fluid sample.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test biological sample is serum or whole blood from the individual.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the donor does not have autoimmune chronic urticaria.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells have been selected as having high upregulation of CD203c expression after stimulation with a granulocyte activating agent and/or after stimulation of FcεRIα on the cells, as compared to cells from a population of normal individuals that do not have autoimmune chronic urticaria.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the donor is a non-atopic donor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are not cultured with interleukin-3 prior to the step of contacting.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of basophils and mast cells.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting is performed by flow cytometry.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting is performed using a CD203c antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells express CD63, and wherein the method further comprises detecting CD63 expression on the cells, wherein decreased expression of CD63 in the presence of the test biological sample after administering the treatment, as compared to CD63 expression on the cells in the presence of the test biological sample before administering the treatment, further indicates that the individual is responding to the treatment.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising testing the individual by histamine release assay before administering the treatment and after administering the treatment, wherein a negative histamine release assay after administering the treatment as compared to before administering the treatment, further indicates that the individual is responding to the treatment.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising testing the individual by autologous serum skin testing (ASST) before administering the treatment and after administering the treatment, wherein a negative ASST test after administering the treatment as compared to before administering the treatment, further indicates that the individual is responding to the treatment.