Virus, bacteria and lipopolysaccharide increase basophil cell response to histamine releasing stimulators and calcium

Histamine release from human basophil leukocytes from allergic patients or controls was induced by specific antigens, anti-IgE or calcium ionophore A23187. Influenza A virus, S. aureus and lipopolysaccharide from S. typhimurium increased the maximum release of histamine and caused a shift to the left of the dose-response curves showing increased cell sensitivity and lowering of the threshold to these stimuli. The mechanism of action was elucidated by examining the mediator release as a function of increasing extracellular concentration of calcium. In these experiments the dose-response curves were changed by the microorganisms and lipopolysaccharide as before. This indicates that the microorganisms and lipopolysaccharide change the basophil cell response to IgE-dependent and non-immunological stimuli by causing a change in the subcellular handling of calcium.