Flow-Cytometric Analysis of Human Basophil Degranulation.

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Abstract
Quantification of human basophils and their degranulation were performed using a flow-cytometric system. The number of basophils among total leukocytes, before and after the effect of degranulating agents, can be obtained rapidly and reproducibly, following alcian blue staining. Dose-response curves of degranulation by anti-IgE and anti-IgG4 were studied. These antibodies can apparently induce basophil degranulation in a Ca2+ dependent manner. Degranulation is completed within 10 min. Values obtained by flow-cytometry and microscopic evaluation, and comparisons made between percent basophil degranulation and percent histamine release, agreed well with each other. Flow-cytometric analysis of human basophil degranulation provides a new reliable method to assess in vitro the morphological basis of immediate hypersensitivity.