A LINEAR CORRELATION BETWEEN HISTAMINE-RELEASE AND DE-GRANULATION OF HUMAN BASOPHILS BY SPECIFIC ANTIGEN OR THE IONOPHORE A23187

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (3) , 411-416
Abstract
Simultaneous kinetic measurements were made of (human) basophil degranulation and of histamine release induced by antigen or ionophore A23187 [calcimycin]. Cells from the same donor under the same conditions undergo both reactions at a similar rate. Regression analysis indicated a statistically highly significant correlation between these 2 parameters for activation by either antigen or ionophore. The mean slope of the regression lines approached unity, indicating a close direct correspondence between the number of cells degranulated and the quantity of histamine released. At any time during histamine release almost all of the cells identifiable as basophils were confluently stained and only rarely were partly degranulated cells observed. Histamine release is apparently not synchronous for populations of basophils Individual cells are apparently fully activated to begin histamine release at different times during the release period and then release all or almost all of their histamine in a short time relative to the total release period. Some cells release essentially none of their histamine and the number of these cells varies among donors and experimental conditions accounting in large measure for the incompleteness of histamine release.