Unique basophil microRNA signature in chronic spontaneous urticaria patients who respond to omalizumab

Involvement of basophils in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) immunopathogenesis is suggested by the blood basopenia that correlates with disease activity and may result from circulating basophils moving to cutaneous sites of wheals. The humanized IgG k monoclonal antibody omalizumab binds to the Cε3 domain of Fc on the IgE heavy chain leading to rapid reduction in free IgE levels and subsequent decrease in FcεRI expression on basophils and mast cells.