Inhibition of IgE-dependent histamine release from human dispersed lung mast cells by anti-allergic drugs and salbutamol.

The ability of the anti-allergic drugs, sodium cromoglycate (SCG), lodoxamide, traxanox, RU31156 and the beta-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol to inhibit IgE-dependent histamine and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) release was assessed using human dispersed lung mast cells. The anti-allergic drugs were weak inhibitors of histamine release, high concentrations (100-1000 microM) producing less than 35% inhibition. Salbutamol produced 39% inhibition at 10 microM. The efficacy of both SCG and salbutamol was inversely related to the concentration of anti-IgE used for challenge and to the degree of histamine release. Rapid tachyphylaxis was observed with all anti-allergic drugs but not with salbutamol. Cross-tachyphylaxis was observed between SCG and the other anti-allergic drugs, suggesting a common mechanism of action. No cross-tachyphylaxis was observed between SCG and salbutamol. SCG was significantly (P less than 0.001) more effective in inhibiting PGD2 than it was histamine release. Preferential inhibition of PGD2 compared with histamine release was less marked (P less than 0.05) with salbutamol and not significant with the other anti-allergic drugs. Mast cells dispersed by enzymatic digestion of human lung released more histamine on immunological challenge than mechanically dispersed cells obtained by fine chopping of tissue. Enzyme treatment of mechanically dispersed cells removed this difference. Enzymatically and mechanically dispersed cells responded similarly to the inhibitory effects of SCG and salbutamol. Our results suggest that salbutamol is a more effective inhibitor of mediator release from human lung mast cells than anti-allergic drugs. However, with the low levels of mediator release achieved during an allergic reaction in man in vivo, both salbutamol and SCG are likely to be effective inhibitors of both preformed and newly generated mediators.     

Inhibition of histamine release from human lung and rat peritoneal mast cells by cyclosporin-A.

Cyclosporin A (CS-A) partly inhibited IgE-mediated histamine release from human lung tissue in vitro (chopped and collagenase-dispersed preparations). Inhibition started at concentrations within the clinical blood level of the drug, but the IC50 was much higher (10-50 microM; 50% inhibition reached only in some experiments). CS-A also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) induced by antigen, concanavalin-A (Con-A), compound 48/80 and ionophore A23187. The IC50 values were 0.3, 23.0, and 33.0 microM for Con-A, A23187 and ovalbumin respectively. Inhibition of 48/80-induced release did not reach 50%. By comparison with human basophils the human lung and RPMC were less sensitive to the inhibitory action of CS-A. The IgE-mediated Schultz-Dale reaction in human lung strips was slightly and inconsistently inhibited by CS-A, but IgG1-mediated reaction in guinea-pig lung strips was potentiated by the drug.     

Inhibition of immunological and non-immunological histamine release from human basophils and lung mast cells by formoterol

3-Formylamino-4-hydroxy-alpha(N-1-methyl-2-p-methoxyphenethyl-a min omethyl)benzylalcohol hemifumarate (formoterol fumarate, BD40 A, CGP 25 827 A-E) inhibited both allergic (anti-IgE) and non-allergic histamine release (calcium ionophore and human complement component C5a) from human basophils. The degree and efficacy of inhibition was comparable to that of ketotifen, equal to or better than fenoterol and ten times more potent than isoprenaline (beta 2-stimulator). Salbutamol, another beta 2-stimulator was practically ineffective in these models. Similarly the anti-IgE, calcium ionophore and complement component C5a induced release of histamine from human lung mast cells could be blocked by formoterol, its potency being again comparable to that of ketotifen. The above degranulation inhibition effect taken together with the pronounced bronchodilator property would confirm formoterol as a drug of choice in asthma with more efficient action than the other beta 2-stimulators such as fenoterol, salbutamol or isoprenaline.     

Inhibition of histamine release from human mast cells by natural chymase inhibitors

AIM: To investigate the ability of natural chymase inhibitors to modulate histamine release from human mast cells.METHODS: Enzymatically dispersed cells from human lung, tonsil, and skin were challenged with anti-IgE or calcium ionophore A23187 in the absence or presence of the natural chymase inhibitors secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and α1-antitrypsin, then histamine release was determined. RESULTS: IgE-dependent histamine release from lung, tonsil, and skin mast cells were inhibited by up to 70 %, 61%, and 62 %, respectively following incubation with α1-antitrypsin (5000 nmol/L). SLPI 5000 nmol/L was also able to inhibit anti-IgE-dependent histamine released from lung, tonsil and skin mast cells by up to approximately 72 %, 67 %, and 58 %,respectively. While neither α1-antitrypsin nor SLPI by themselves altered histamine release from lung, tonsil and skin mast cells, they were able to inhibit calcium ionophore-induced histamine release from lung and tonsil mast cells. CONCLUSION: Both α1-antitrypsin and SLPI could potently inhibit IgE-dependent and calcium ionophoreinduced histamine release from dispersed human lung, tonsil, and skin mast cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which suggested that they were likely to play a protective role in mast cell associated diseases including allergy.     

Characterization of neuropeptide-induced histamine release from human dispersed skin mast cells.

1. Human skin mast cells, unlike other human mast cells so far studied, released histamine in a concentration-related manner in response to substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (1 microM to 30 microM). In contrast, eledoisin, physalaemin, neurokinin A, neurokinin B, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurotensin, bradykinin and Lys-bradykinin induced negligible histamine release. 2. The low histamine releasing activity of physalaemin, eledoisin, neurokinin A and neurokinin B relative to substance P suggests that the human skin mast cell activation site is distinct from the tachykinin NK-1, NK-2 or NK-3 receptors described in smooth muscle. 3. The relative potencies of substance P and its fragments SP2-11, SP3-11, SP4-11 and SP1-4 in releasing histamine from human skin mast cells suggests that both the basic N-terminal amino acids and the lipophilic C-terminal portion of substance P are essential for activity. 4. Peptide-induced histamine release, like that induced by compound 48/80, morphine and poly-L-lysine, is rapid, reaching completion in 10-20 s, is largely independent of extracellular calcium but requires intact glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. 5. The substance P analogue, [D-Pro4,D-Trp7,9,10] SP4-11 (SPA), not only reduced substance P-induced histamine release in a concentration-related manner but also inhibited that induced by VIP, somatostatin, compound 48/80, poly-L-lysine and morphine but not anti-IgE. 6. The similar characteristics of histamine release induced by substance P, VIP, somatostatin, compound 48/80, poly-L-lysine and morphine suggest that they share a common pathway of activation-secretion coupling distinct from that of IgE-dependent activation. Furthermore, the ability of human skin mast cells to respond to basic non-immunological stimuli including neuropeptides may reflect a specialised function for these cells.     

Inhibition of IgE-mediated release of histamine and peptide leukotriene from human basophils and mast cells by forskolin

Forskolin, a diterpene compound isolated from the roots of Coleus forskohlii, activates adenylate cyclase in membranes from a variety of mammalian tissues. We found that forskolin (10(-7) to 3 X 10(-5) M) caused a concentration-related inhibition of IgE-mediated release of histamine and peptide leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from human basophils and lung mast cells. There was a significant linear correlation between the per cent inhibition of histamine and LTC4 release from both cell types. However, in both systems forskolin exerted a significantly greater inhibitory effect on LTC4 release than on histamine release. The concentration-response inhibition curve was paralleled by a forskolin-induced rise in cAMP levels in human leukocyte and mast cell preparations. The relationship between the effect of forskolin and the cAMP concentration was supported by the finding that forskolin inhibited the "first stage" of antigen-induced histamine release, but not the release caused by the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187. Propranolol, a competitive beta-receptor antagonist, did not block the inhibition of mediator release or the cAMP accumulation caused by forskolin. These data suggest that forskolin modulates the release of mediators of immediate hypersensitivity reactions via the activation of adenylate cyclase in human basophils and mast cells.     

Inhibition of histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells by a factor from human serum--identification as transferrin

Recently, we described the presence of a blocking factor (BF) in rat serum which inhibited the histamine release from rat mast cells in vivo and in vitro. The blocking activity was demonstrated in human serum as well. Purification of the human-BF was carried out in a similar way as previously described for the rodent molecule. Both protein fractions produced a marked suppression of histamine release from rat mast cells and human basophils in a dose-dependent fashion. Qualitative analysis of the purified preparations demonstrated a major component with a molecular weight of 70,000 daltons. In human serum the blocking factor was identified as transferrin by serological and biochemical methods. It is suggested that this molecule may play an important role in regulating histamine release during allergic and inflammatory reactions.     

Inhibition of potassium-induced release of histamine from mast cells by tetraethylammonium and tetramethylammonium.

In accordance with our previous results, a marked release of histamine (HA) from rat peritoneal mast cells was initiated by 150 mM KCl in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. This release could be reduced by 20-60 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) or tetramethylammonium (TMA), the non-selective K(+)-channel blockers, Ouabain, the general inhibitor of (Na+ + K+) ATP-ase, failed to produce any changes in this release. The action of TEA discriminated between the initiation of HA release evoked by different agents, producing a blockade of the K(+)-induced but not the 48/80-stimulated HA release. In total, these data suggest the presence of TEA/TMA-sensitive K(+)-channels in the mast cell membrane and their involvement in one of the possible pathways for the initiation of HA release.     

Induction of histamine release from human skin mast cells by bradykinin analogs

Kinins are potent proinflammatory peptides that induce histamine release from rodent mast cells. We examined the ability of bradykinin, lysylbradykinin and a series of kinin analogs to cause histamine release from human basophils, human lung mast cells and human skin mast cells. At concentrations ranging from 0.1 microM to 1 mM, bradykinin failed to cause histamine release from any of the human histamine-containing cells studied. Lysylbradykinin was also without effect on basophils and lung mast cells, but was a weak secretagogue for human skin mast cells, inducing 5.5 +/- 3% (mean +/- SD) of total cellular histamine release at a concentration of 10(-5) M. Similarly, when sixteen recently developed bradykinin antagonists were examined, these compounds had no effect on basophils or lung mast cells but all sixteen induced dose-dependent histamine release from skin mast cells. The release process was temperature dependent and, at a concentration of 10(-5) M, the antagonists induced 8-27% histamine release. Although preincubation of cells with 10(-3) M bradykinin or des(Arg9) bradykinin significantly inhibited antagonist-induced histamine release, the requirement for such high concentrations of these peptides to cause inhibition suggested that histamine release is not mediated by either B1 or B2 kinin receptors. To understand further the mechanism of histamine release, we examined a series of bradykinin analogs with single amino acid substitutions in the bradykinin sequence. Replacement of proline7 in the bradykinin sequence with D-phenylalanine is the essential change used to convert kinin analogs into antagonists, and 10(-5) M [DPhe7]-bradykinin induced 8-10% histamine release. Other analogs, devoid of antagonist activity, however, such as [DPhe6]-bradykinin and [LPhe7]-bradykinin were able to induce equivalent levels of histamine release. The ability to induce histamine release appears to be related, at least in part, to aromaticity, since [DTrp6]-bradykinin and [DTrp7]-bradykinin induced greater amounts of histamine release than equivalent [DPhe]-analogs, causing approximately 20% histamine release at 10(-5) M. By contrast, [DAla7]-bradykinin was an ineffective stimulus. In summary, a single amino acid substitution can convert bradykinin into a secretagogue for human skin mast cells. The ability of kinin analogs to induce histamine release from skin mast cells, but not lung mast cells or basophils, emphasizes the heterogeneity of human histamine-containing cells.     

The effect of methyltransferase inhibitors on histamine release from human dispersed lung mast cells activated with anti-human IgE and calcium ionophore A23187

Inhibitors of adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent methyltransferases reduce histamine release from enzymatically dispersed human lung mast cells activated with either anti-human IgE or calcium ionophore A23187. The IC25 values for adenosine and 3-deazaadenosine (DZA) inhibiting anti-IgE-induced histamine release were 395 microM and 301 microM respectively. The addition of homocysteine thiolactone (Hcy) potentiated the effects of adenosine and DZA, reducing their IC25 values to 32 microM and 10.5 microM respectively. The adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminohydrolase EC 3.5.4.4) inhibitors erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)-adenine (EHNA) inhibited anti-IgE-induced histamine release with an IC50 of 162 microM. This inhibition was not potentiated by Hcy. The combination of DZA and Hcy effectively inhibited histamine release induced by concentrations of A23187 which released a similar amount of histamine to anti-IgE. However the combination was 17 times less potent against A23187-compared with anti-IgE-induced release. These observations suggest that AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases play an important role in IgE-dependent histamine release from human lung mast cells but their role in A23187-induced release is less clear.     

Physiological concentrations of zinc inhibit the release of histamine from human basophils and lung mast cells

We have previously shown that physiological concentrations of zinc (congruent to 7 X 10(-6) M) inhibit the release of histamine from human basophil leukocytes (Marone et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 217: 292, 1981). In these experiments we compared the effect of zinc chloride on the release of chemical mediators from human basophils and mast cells isolated from human lung. Preincubation (5 min, 37 degrees C) of human basophils and lung mast cells with zinc chloride (10(-6)-3 X 10(-5) M) caused dose-related inhibition of histamine and peptide leukotriene C4 (LTC4) release induced by anti-IgE. Increase Ca2+ concentrations (0.3 to 6 mM) in the extracellular medium completely reversed the inhibitory effect of zinc on anti-IgE-mediated histamine secretion. Zinc chloride was a competitive antagonist of the action of Ca2+ in histamine secretion induced by anti-IgE with a dissociation constant (Kd) of about 10(-5) M in both the basophil and mast cell systems. Thus physiological concentrations of zinc inhibit the release of histamine from human basophils and lung mast cells, presumably by blocking Ca2+ uptake induced by anti-IgE activation.     

Anthracycline-induced histamine release from rat mast cells

Comparisons were made of the ability of doxorubicin, daunorubicin, rubidazone and aclacinomycin A to release histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells. Preliminary in vitro experiments indicated that doxorubicin (10(-6) to 2.5 X 10(-4) M), in contrast to compound 48/80 and the calcium ionophore A23187, did not produce significant release under any condition tested when purified or unpurified rat mast cells were used. In in vitro experiments, released histamine was measured in the cell-free supernatant of peritoneal fluid of rats after intraperitoneal injection of the agents. The time course of doxorubicin-induced histamine release from the peritoneum was rapid, with maximal release occurring within 4 to 6 min. Dose-response curves of the 4 agents over the range 10(-5) to 3.3 X 10(-3) M revealed that all caused histamine release, with 10(-3) M concentrations of each causing maximal release of comparable magnitude to that produced by 9.5 X 10(-6) M A23187. Treated mast cells recovered from the peritoneal cavity showed degranulation and vacuolization when examined by electron microscopy. Increased vascular permeability by the Evans-blue test was also noted with all 4 agents, and zones were of comparable size after injection of the highest concentration of each agent. The results indicate that in vivo, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, rubidazone and aclacinomycin A cause a rapid release of histamine from rat mast cells and an increase in vascular permeability in rat sin. There also appeared to be a reasonable correlation between the blueing reaction and histamine release in the peritoneal cavity in that the doses that did not cause skin blueing also failed to cause histamine release. The lack of histamine release by doxorubicin from mast cell preparations in vitro suggests that alterations to the doxorubicin molecule or the presence of other critical substances may be necessary for this activity to commence.     

Inhibition of histamine release from rat mast cells by cytochalasin A and other sulfhydryl reagents.

We adduce several lines of evidence to indicate that the inhibition of histamine release from rat mast cells by cytochalasin A (Cyto A) depends on its reactivity with mast cell sulfhydryl (SH) groups: (1) Cyto A reacts with cysteine, glutathione and protein SH groups ; (2) prior reaction of Cyto A with glutathione eliminates its inhibitory action; and (3) 2,2'-dithiodipyridine (DTDP), a SH reagent with greater specificity for SH groups and very different structure from Cyto A, has parallel inhibitory effects on mast cell secretion. Inhibition of histamine release by Cyto A or by DTDP is independent of depression of cell ATP or cell glutathione. Inhibition of release induced by the calcium ionophore A23187 and polymyxin suggests that the two SH reagents act to block the release mechanism subsequent to a putative increase in cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration. In contrast, N(7-dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarinyl)maleimide (DACM), p-chloromercuri-benzene sulfonate (PCMBS) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) (< 10^?5 M) appear to react with a SH group required for polymyxin B but not A23187-induced release. The effect of NEM at high concentrations (5 × 10^?5 M) is attributable to depression of cell ATP.     

Inhibition of mast cell histamine release by flavonoids and biflavonoids

The effect of 11 flavonoids and 4 biflavonoids on the release of histamine from peritoneal rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80 and calcium ionophore A23187 was studied. Dihydroflavonoids (flavanones) and (+)-catechin did not modify histamine release induced by both secretagogues. Flavone, apigenin and cromoglycate inhibited the secretion elicited by compound 48/80 but did not modify the A23187-induced secretion. The effect of kaempferol on the compound 48/80-induced histamine release was biphasic. Low doses (10 (-6) to 10 (-5)M) of the compound potentiated secretion whereas higher doses inhibited histamine secretion. Some of the drugs tested revealed a higher potency as referred to quercetin. Luteolin, a tetrahydroxyflavone and amentoflavone, a biapigenin, exhibited the highest inhibitory effects of mast cell histamine secretion.     

Forskolin inhibits the release of histamine from human basophils and mast cells

We found that forskolin (10(-7) to 3 X 10(-5) M) caused dose-related inhibition of antigen-induced histamine release from human basophil leukocytes. The dose-response inhibition curve was paralleled by a forskolin-induced increase in cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in human leukocyte preparations. The kinetics of inhibition of histamine release and of the increase in leukocyte cAMP were the same. In a second series of experiments we evaluated the effect of forskolin on antigen-induced histamine release from chopped human lung passively sensitized with serum from an allergic patient. Forskolin (10(-7) to 3 X 10(-5) M) dose-dependently inhibited the release of histamine from human lung mast cells. Thus forskolin appears to modulate the release of mediators of the immediate hypersensitivity reaction, presumably through activation of adenylate cyclase in human basophils and mast cells.     

Adenosine inhibits and potentiates IgE-dependent histamine release from human lung mast cells by an A2-purinoceptor mediated mechanism

Adenosine, at physiological concentrations, may modulate histamine release from mechanically dispersed human lung mast cells. Addition of adenosine to the dispersed mast cells at times up to 5 min before immunological challenge with anti-human IgE inhibited histamine release. When added after this time adenosine caused a small potentiation of immunological histamine release, maximum potentiation occurring with addition of adenosine 5 min after challenge, coincidental with the end of the rapid phase of histamine release. Both inhibition and potentiation of histamine release were more pronounced with low levels of immunological challenge. Theophylline, 8-phenyltheophylline, dipyridamole and analogues of adenosine were used to determine the site of action of adenosine on mast cell mediator release. Theophylline and 8-phenyltheophylline displaced the concentration-response lines for both inhibition and potentiation of mediator release by adenosine to the right whilst dipyridamole, 1 microM, was without significant effect. This suggests that both effects result from interaction of adenosine with cell surface receptors. This was confirmed by demonstrating that the P-site agonist 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine produced only inhibition of histamine release, an effect which was inhibited by dipyridamole but not by theophylline. The rank potency order of adenosine analogues, NECA much greater than adenosine greater than or equal to L-PIA greater than or equal to D-PIA in both inhibiting and potentiating immunological histamine release suggests that both effects are mediated through activation of cell surface A2-purinoceptors. Since adenosine is released into the circulation of asthmatic subjects following bronchial provocation with antigen, causes bronchoconstriction and has the ability to modulate mast cell histamine release, this nucleoside should be considered as an additional inflammatory mediator of allergic reactions.     

Stimulus-dependence and time-course of histamine and leukotriene release from chopped and dispersed human lung tissue

The calcium ionophore A23187 and anti-human IgE provoked a dose-dependent release of histamine and cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4) from dispersed human lung cells. Optimal release of histamine peaked at 3 min after challenge whereas the release of cysteinyl-leukotrienes peaked at 30 min. The molar ratio between released histamine and cysteinyl-leukotrienes was approximately 100:1. The ionophore, but not anti-IgE caused additional formation of LTB4 in the dispersed cells or the chopped lung, indicating that this chemoattractant is formed from cells not primarily activated by IgE-dependent mechanisms. Indomethacin failed to alter release of histamine or leukotrienes from dispersed cells, whereas further inhibition of lipoxygenases by NDGA abolished leukotriene formation and reduced the release of histamine.     

Potassium-induced histamine release from mast cells and its inhibition by ketotifen

Potassium chloride induced a dose-dependent release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells at concentrations from 5 to 150 mM in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Potassium concentrations greater than 150 mM produced less histamine release. The release was energy-dependent and was complete within one minute. The histamine liberating effect of KCl could be inhibited by NaCl and by preincubation with ketotifen. The monovalent cations, Rb+ and Cs+ also evoked histamine release, whereas Na+ and Li+ were ineffective.