Abstract: WANG Ai-xue, LI Yu-ping, WANG Rui-min, LU Feng-min, GUO Bing-shen, ZHANG Huan-huan, SHI Li-ping, YAO Li-mei, SI Rong-lian. Department of Dermatology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China Corresponding author: LI Yu-ping, Email: lyuping@medmail.com.cn 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the role of neuropeptide Y and activated basophilic granulocytes in the pathogenesis of urticaria factitia. Methods This study included 24 outpatients with urticaria factitia collected from August 2011 to December 2011 at the Department of Dermatology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, as well as 16 healthy volunteers without allergic diseases, chronic somatic diseases, nervous system disorders or psychiatric disorders. Venous blood samples were collected from these subjects. Radioimmunoassay was carried out to determine the plasma level of neuropeptide Y, and flow cytometric analysis to count activated basophilic granulocytes after triple staining with CD45-peridinin-chlorophyll-protein complex/CD203c-phycoerythrin/CD63-fluorescein isothiocyanate. Results The plasma level of neuropeptide Y was （111.155 ± 36.832） ng/L and （104.456 ± 44.697） ng/L in the patients and healthy volunteers respectively （t = 0.198, P ＞ 0.05）. The median number of activated basophilic granulocytes was significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy controls （280.5 × 106/L vs. 18.1 × 106/L, P < 0.05）. Conclusisons Activated basophilic granulocytes appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of urticaria factitia, while the role of neuropeptide Y remains unknown.

Key words: CD 63