STUDIES ON THE MECHANISMS OF HYPERSENSITIVITY PHENOMENA: IX. HISTAMINE RELEASE FROM HUMAN LEUKOCYTES BY RAGWEED POLLEN ANTIGEN

doi:10.1084/jem.120.4.507

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STUDIES ON THE MECHANISMS OF HYPERSENSITIVITY PHENOMENA : IX. HISTAMINE RELEASE FROM HUMAN LEUKOCYTES BY RAGWEED POLLEN ANTIGEN

Lawrence M. Lichtenstein M.D.¹ and Abraham G. Osler Ph.D.¹

¹ From the Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore

Human leukocytes, isolated from the blood of ragweed-sensitivedonors, release histamine upon reaction with a purified proteinantigen derived from this pollen. The release process has beenstudied with washed cells suspended in a defined, serum-freemedium. Physiologic levels of pH, ionic strength, and temperature,as well as both calcium and magnesium, are required for optimalcellular reactivity. The level of cellular sensitivity of approximately200 ragweed-sensitive donors has been ascertained, and the kineticsof the release process studied. The rate of histamine releaseis a function of antigen concentration, but even with a largeexcess of this reagent it is impossible to abolish a lag phase.Chelation of the divalent cations or a decrease in the reactiontemperature may be utilized to stop the reaction. These measuresare effective both before and after the initiation of histaminerelease. Diminished cellular reactivity (desensitization) hasbeen achieved by several procedures. These have in common theaddition of antigen to cells in an environment deficient inbut a single respect, followed by a restoration of optimal conditions.

Thesignificance of these data has been discussed and it has beenproposed that immunologically induced histamine release is anactive, enzymatically mediated process which occurs as a multistepresponse of viable cells to a specific antigenic stimulus.

Submitted on April 22, 1964

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