The effect of nicotine on basophil histamine release

Background:Changes in the immune and inflammatory response are induced by smoking tobacco but underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.Objective:This study investigated the effect of nicotine agonists on histamine release from human basophils.Methods:Peripheral blood basophils were obtained from healthy volunteers. The effect of the nictotine agonists [–]-1-methyl-2-[3-pyridyl]pyrrolidine and (+)-nicotine di-p-toluoyltartrate salt on cell viability and anti-IgE induced histamine release was investigated.Results:Cell viability was not altered by preincubation with the agents for 15 min. Anti-IgE induced histamine release was significantly inhibited by preincubation (15 min, 37°C) with [–]-1-methyl-2-[3-pyridyl]pyrrolidine at the highest concentration tested 10^–3 M (p<0.01). Preincubation (15 min, 37°C) with (+)-nicotine di-p-toluoyltartrate salt significantly inhibited anti-IgE induced histamine release at 10^–3M and 10^–5 M (p<0.05).Conclusions:This study has demonstrated that nicotine agonists inhibit histamine release from human basophils. Further studies examining the effect of smoking on basophil activation are required.Received 28 September 2003; returned for revision 1 December 2003; accepted by A. Falus 23 December 2003