Histamine suppression of in vivo eosinophil accumulation and histamine release in human allergic reactions
Ting, S.; Zweiman, B.; Lavker, R.; Dunsky, E.H.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 68(1): 65-71
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0091-6749 PMID: 6165750 DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(81)90125-1
Accession: 005575195
Although histamine inhibits antigen-induced in vitro histamine release from basophils, it is unclear whether histamine inhibits in vivo mediator release in human allergic reactions. Effects of exogenous histamine on histamine release and inflammatory cell responses were studied in antigen-challenged skin sites in 8 ragweed-sensitive individuals. Four heat-suction blisters in each subject were unroofed, and a collection chamber was appended to each blister base. Chamber A contained 100 PNU[protein N units]/ml ragweed extract; chamber B contained buffered saline (control fluid); chamber C contained 1000 PNU/ml ragweed and 50 ng (5 .times. 10-7 M) of histamine; and chamber D contained histamine alone (50 ng). Comparative analyses of chamber histamine levels in individual subjects showed that histamine levels in chamber A were significantly greater than those in chamber B, and that histamine levels in chamber C were not significantly different than those in chamber D. Comparison of eosinophils attaching to membrane filters appended to the chamber bases for 2 h showed that there were significantly more eosinophils in chamber A than in chamber B, and that there was no significant difference in eosinophil numbers on filters appended to chamber C vs. chamber D. In 3 of 4 subjects studied, addition of exogenous histamine (50 ng/ml) to ragweed before intradermal injection inhibited the ultrastructural mast cell alterations seen within 10 min after injection of ragweed alone. In the 1 subject in which mast cell alterations were not prevented, exogenous histamine also did not inhibit antigen-induced histamine release or subsequent eosinophil accumulation in the skin chambers.