Immunological properties of nerve growth factors.

Antisera were raised against nerve growth factors isolated from mouse salivary gland and five venoms representative of the three main families of poisonous snakes. Immunochemical cross-reactivity was assessed from the ability of the antisera to inhibit the biological activities of the heterologous antigens. The high and low molecular weight forms of the salivary gland factors were found to be immunologically identical but distinct from the snake venom factors. The snake venom factors, on the other hand, were immunologically closely related to each other but not identical.

Studies on histamine secretion from enzymically dispersed cutaneous mast cells of the rat.

A method has been developed for the enzymic dissociation of rat skin into its component cells. The resulting suspensions contained 3-5% mast cells. The latter were intact as judged by light microscopy and exhibited a low spontaneous release of histamine. Cells obtained from actively sensitized animals released histamine on challenge with specific antigen. The process was rapid, being essentially complete within 1 min, and was both calcium-and temperature-dependent. The cells also responded to antirat IgE and to calcium ionophores but showed a selective, time-dependent reactivity toward defined chemical histamine liberators. On the basis of these results the properties of the cutaneous mast cell are compared with those previously reported for mastocytes from other sources and discussed in terms of the general heterogeneity of this cell population.

Basophil mediator release in atopic dermatitis.

Basophils have been implicated as a source of histamine and pro-inflammatory eicosanoids in atopic dermatitis. However, mechanisms regulating basophil mediator release are not understood. An H3 receptor involved in the control of histamine synthesis and release has been identified in nervous tissue. In this study we have investigated 1) release of histamine, leukotriene C4, and prostaglandin D2 from anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-stimulated basophils of adults with atopic dermatitis and unaffected individuals and 2) specific H3 receptor-dependent basophil mediator release, using an H3 receptor agonist and antagonist. Basophil-rich leukocyte fractions were prepared by dextran sedimentation of venous blood from 19 patients with atopic dermatitis (five male, 14 female, mean age 30.6 years, range 19-59 years) and 15 unaffected individuals (five male, 10 female, mean age 27.6 years, range 19-50 years). Anti-IgE (0.78-78.0 micrograms/ml) stimulation of basophils induced a concentration-dependent release of histamine and leukotriene C4, but not prostaglandin D2. Histamine release was maximally induced by 7.8 micrograms/ml anti-IgE with no significant (Mann-Whitney U test) difference between atopic basophils (n = 17; 43.65 +/- 4.16% mean +/- SEM) and normal basophils (n = 13; 52.23 +/- 4.39%). LTC4 release was maximal from atopic basophils incubated with 2.6 micrograms/ml anti-IgE (n = 5; 0.99 +/- 0.29 pg/10(6) cells) and from normal basophils incubated with 0.78 microgram/ml anti-IgE (n = 5; 25.38 +/- 5.79 pg/10(6) cells). Anti-IgE-stimulated release of leukotriene C4 from atopic basophils was significantly less than from normal basophils at all concentrations (p < 0.05). Basophils were co-incubated with anti-IgE (2.6 and 7.8 micrograms/ml) and either the H3 receptor agonist, (R)alpha-methylhistamine (10(-8) and 10(-7) M), or the H3 receptor antagonist thioperamide (10(-6) and 10(-5) M). Neither drug modulated anti-IgE-induced release of histamine (atopics, n = 10; normals, n = 8). These results indicate 1) that basophils from adults with atopic dermatitis release the same amount of histamine as, but less leukotriene C4 than, basophils of unaffected adults and 2) that H3 receptors are not involved in anti-IgE release of histamine from basophils. These data do not support a role for increased basophil release of histamine as a mediator in the itch and erythema of atopic dermatitis in adults.

Effect of lanthanide ions on histamine secretion from rat peritoneal mast cells.

1 Ions of the lanthanide series (lanthanum-lutetium) inhibit histamine release induced by allergen and anti-IgE in the presence of extracellular calcium. The inhibition is dose-dependent in the range 10(-6) to 10(-9) M and there is no marked difference in potency between the lanthanides. 2 The response to lanthanum is biphasic and higher concentrations (10(-4) M) potentiate the release. Maximal concentrations (10(-3) M) again abolish secretion. 3 The effect of concanavalin A is weakly antagonized by lanthanum but strongly inhibited by higher lanthanides. 4 Inhibition of histamine release evoked by basic agents is markedly dependent on the ionic radius of the lanthanide. In the presence of extracellular calcium, dysprosium is the most effective inhibitor. Similar results are observed with dextran. In the absence of calcium, there is a regular increase in inhibition with decreasing ionic radius. 5 Inhibition of release in the presence of calcium is immediate and does not require preincubation with the lanthanide. The antagonism due to lanthanum is competitive and the pA2 values vary with the secretagogue. In contrast, the inhibitory effect in the absence of extracellular calcium increase progressively with time. 6 These results are discussed in terms of the calcium-pools important in histamine release and the mode of action of different secretagogues.

Role of serine esterases in mast cell activation.

1. A variety of chymotryptic substrates and inhibitors prevented the release of histamine and prostaglandin D2 from rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated with anti-IgE but not the calcium ionophore A23187 or a variety of polyamines. 2. The activity of the compounds was strikingly increased in cells reversibly permeabilized with ATP, indicating the importance of their effective incorporation into the cytosol. 3. The compounds produced a comparable inhibition of immunological, but not pharmacological, histamine release from human mast cells and basophils. 4. Treatment of rat mast cells with anti-IgE led to a marked increase in the total chymotryptic activity expressed by the cells. 5. Immunological, but not pharmacological, stimulation of permeabilized rat mast cells loaded with a fluorescent chymotryptic substrate led to a pronounced and rapid increase in fluorescence, indicating activation of the enzyme and hydrolysis of the substrate. These changes were attenuated by chymotryptic inhibitors. 6. In total, these data provide compelling evidence for the direct involvement of a serine protease in IgE-mediated histamine release from mast cells.

Divalent cation dependence of the inhibition by phenothiazines of mediator release from mast cells.

1. The divalent cations calcium, strontium and barium--and in that order of decreasing effectiveness--were capable of supporting the stimulated release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC). 2. The responsiveness of mast cells to stimulation in the presence of divalent cations was, in general, markedly enhanced when the cells were first depleted of their intracellular calcium stores. 3. The putative calmodulin antagonists, chlorpromazine, promethazine, thioridazine (phenothiazines) and W-7 (a naphthalene sulphonamide) all inhibited histamine release in the presence of divalent cations in both untreated cells and in RPMC depleted of their intracellular calcium. 4. Histamine release induced by antigen, compound 48/80 and ionophore A23187 was inhibited by this class of compounds most effectively in the presence of extracellular barium, less so in the presence of strontium and least so in calcium-containing media. 5. In the experimental situation where the extracellular calcium concentration was reduced (less than 1 mM), the phenothiazines inhibited the stimulated release of histamine more effectively. 6. In toto, these results suggest that strontium and barium, as well as calcium, can support histamine release from RPMC by directly interacting with an intracellular divalent cation-binding site that may be calmodulin. As a consequence, one mechanism by which the phenothiazines and W-7 may modulate the secretory response could reflect an antagonism of a divalent cation interaction at that same site, although other additional potential sites of inhibitory action are indicated, dependent on the stimulus employed for secretion.

A comparison of histamine secretion from peritoneal mast cells of the rat and hamster.

Functional mast cells have been obtained by peritoneal lavage of the rat and hamster. Both cell types released histamine on stimulation with appropriate dilutions of anti-rat IgE and anti-hamster serum. The maximum response evoked by each reagent was significantly greater for the hamster cells. The release was non-cytotoxic and was in each case blocked by the corresponding soluble antigen. The rat and hamster cells responded to concanavalin A and the lectin from lentil. Phosphatidylserine (PS) potentiated the release only from the rat cells. In the absence of the lipid, the hamster cells were more reactive. The lectin from wheat germ, in the presence of PS, evoked histamine secretion only from the rat cells. Both populations were refractory to the lectin from soybean and to protein A. Rat peritoneal cells were more responsive to the basic secretagogues compound 48/80 and peptide 401 (the MCD-peptide from bee venom). These differences were less marked in the case of polylysine and polyarginine. The two cell populations responded to the calcium ionophores A23187, ionomycin and chlortetracycline. The hamster cells were significantly more sensitive to the former two liberators but markedly less reactive to chlortetracycline. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and dextran were potent histamine liberators from the rat cells but were totally ineffective against the hamster. Acetylcholine and carbamylcholine had no effect on either cell type. These results are discussed in terms of the functional heterogeneity of mast cells from different sources.

Some studies on the release of histamine from mast cells stimulated with polylysine.

1 Polylysine is an extremely potent releaser of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells. Isolated mesenteric mast cells of the rat also respond to the secretagogue but guinea-pig mesenteric cells are unreactive. 2 The release does not require the presence of extracellular calcium ions but shows some dependence on internal stores of the cation. 3 The effect of polylysine is blocked by extremes of temperature and by metabolic inhibitors. 4 The release is very rapid and is virtually complete within 10 s of adding the inducer. 5 The release is unaffected by the anti-allergic drug, doxantrazole, but is inhibited by theophylline and disodium cromoglycate. The latter compounds are effective in both the presence and absence of added calcium. This result is discussed in terms of the postulated effect of the drugs on calcium transport.

The effect of alkaline earth cations on the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells treated with compound 48/80 and peptide 401.

1 Extracellular calcium ions have a dual effect on the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells treated with compound 48/80 and peptide 401. The release is either potentiated or inhibited according to the relative concentrations of ion and inducer.2 Strontium similarly potentiates the release produced by optimal concentrations of inducer but higher concentrations are required than in the case of calcium. Strontium is markedly less inhibitory than calcium.3 Mast cells may be depleted of intracellular calcium by incubation for short periods with the chelating agent, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). They thereby become unresponsive to compound 48/80 and peptide 401 unless calcium is reintroduced into the incubation medium. Strontium and barium, but not magnesium, will substitute for calcium in this system. Barium additionally produces a marked release of histamine even in the absence of inducer. Pretreatment with the ionophore A23187 similarly inhibits the subsequent response to peptide 401 in divalent cation-free medium. This inhibition is reversed on the reintroduction of calcium.4 Compound 48/80 and peptide 401 release histamine from mast cells incubated in isotonic sucrose in the complete absence of added metal ions. However, the corrected release under these conditions is potentiated by both mono and divalent cations.5 On the basis of these results, the possible mechanism of action of the basic releasing agents and their usefulness as models for studying histamine secretion is discussed.

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions in epithelia from rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

Colonic epithelia from rats infected with the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis have been studied under short circuit conditions and in response to challenge with worm antigen. Challenge from the serosal but not the mucosal side with antigen caused a transient increase in inwardly directed short circuit current. No effects were observed in comparable tissues from noninfected animals. Simultaneous measurements of short circuit current and of the fluxes of sodium or chloride ions showed there was an increase in electrogenic chloride secretion and an inhibition of electroneutral sodium chloride absorption, associated with antigen challenge. This result, together with the inhibitory effects of piretanide on the response to antigen challenge, indicate that chloride ions are a major carrier of the short circuit current response. However, the equivalence of the biophysical response to ion fluxes was not established, there being an excess of chloride secretion. The mast cell stabilizing agent, FPL 52694, significantly inhibited the current responses to antigen, while cromoglycate and doxantrazole were ineffective. Mepyramine, an H1-receptor antagonist, and indomethacin, an inhibitor of fatty acid cyclo-oxygenase, were without effect on the responses to antigen challenge. Anti-rat IgE produced qualitatively similar responses to antigen in both normal and sensitized colonic epithelia. However, the responses were significantly greater in tissues derived from infected animals. Maximally effective antigen concentrations prevented subsequent responses to anti-rat IgE in sensitized tissues, while anti-rat IgE only attenuated the responses to antigen. The ways in which antigen challenge modifies epithelial function is discussed, particularly in relation to its possible role in promoting rejection of the nematodes during secondary infection.

Fc epsilon RI-mediated chloride uptake by rat mast cells: modulation by chloride transport inhibitors in relation to histamine secretion.

1. We have examined the role of extracellular chloride in the mast cell secretion process. The immunologically-directed ligand, antibody to IgE (anti-IgE) required extracellular chloride ions for optimum secretion from rat peritoneal mast cells. In contrast, replacement of extracellular chloride did not alter the mast cell secretory response to compound 48/80, calcium ionophore A23187 or substance P. 2. Anti-IgE-stimulation of mast cells evoked a significant uptake of chloride ions compared to non-stimulated cells. The magnitude of chloride uptake correlated with the magnitude of stimulated histamine secretion. 3. Compound 48/80, substance P and A23187 did not alter the rate of chloride ion uptake, although these agents caused significant histamine secretion. 4. The Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport inhibitor, furosemide, reduced the rate of anti-IgE-stimulated chloride uptake at a relatively high concentration (700 microM). However, the more potent Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport inhibitors, bumetanide (100 microM) and piretanide (100 microM) had no effect on the stimulated chloride uptake. 5. Furosemide inhibited anti-IgE-induced histamine secretion, bumetanide potentiated the response and piretanide had no effect. This suggests that their respective action on histamine secretion are unrelated to inhibition of the Na+/K+/2Cl- carrier. 6. The chloride channel blocker, 5-nitro-2-((3-phenylpropyl)-amino)-benzoic acid (NPPB), reduced both anti-IgE-stimulated chloride uptake and the corresponding histamine secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The magnitude of the inhibitory action of the drug on these two cellular processes was comparable, implying that chloride channel activity is related to the mechanism of histamine secretion. 7. It is concluded that chloride uptake has a role in the control of Fc epsilon RI-mediated histamine secretion from rodent mast cells.

The ability of thapsigargin and thapsigargicin to activate cells involved in the inflammatory response.

The ability of thapsigargin and thapsigargicin to activate mast cells and leukocytes has been investigated. The thapsigargin-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells was found to be dependent on the concentration of thapsigargin, the purity of the mast cell preparations, and the number of mast cells in suspension. Thapsigargin induced histamine release from human basophil leukocytes. Thapsigargin induced beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme release from human neutrophil leukocytes. Thapsigargin caused a release of histamine from mesentery, lung, and heart mast cells of the rat, but only to a minor extent from the corresponding guinea-pig cells. Thapsigargicin induced histamine release from mesentery, lung, and heart mast cells of the rat at concentrations from 0.1 microM but provoked only a release from the corresponding guinea-pig cells in the concentration-range 0.16 to 1.6 microM. Thapsigargin increased the cytoplasmic free calcium level in intact human blood platelets at concentrations from 3.0 nM.

Effects of sodium cromoglycate and nedocromil sodium on histamine secretion from mast cells from various locations.

Nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. Tachyphylaxis was observed with both drugs. The 2 compounds were extremely selective in their action, being less active against peritoneal mast cells from the hamster and completely ineffective against mast cells from the mouse. Human basophil leucocytes, tissue mast cells of the guinea-pig and rat intestinal mast cells were also unresponsive. Both drugs inhibited immunological histamine release from human pulmonary mast cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and, less effectively, from lung parenchyma. Nedocromil sodium was about 1 order of magnitude more potent than sodium cromoglycate in each case. Tachyphylaxis was observed with the dispersed lung, but not with the cells obtained by BAL, and the degree of inhibition varied inversely with the magnitude of the secretory response. The possible clinical significance of these observations is discussed.

Effect of disodium cromoglycate and cyclic AMP-active drugs on cytotoxic histamine release from rat mast cells.

Disodium cromoglycate and compounds which elevated levels of cyclic AMP in the mast cell variously inhibited cytotoxic histamine release induced by the surface active agents melittin, Tween 20 and Triton X-100. These results are inconsistent with the postulated effects of the drugs on receptor mediated calcium channels and alternative explanations of their action are considered.

The effect of adenosine and its analogues on cyclic AMP changes and histamine secretion from rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated by various ligands.

In keeping with previous reports, immunological activation of purified rat peritoneal mast cells induced a transient elevation in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP which preceded or accompanied the release of histamine. Enhancement or suppression of this rise by appropriate adenosine analogues produced parallel changes in histamine secretion. However, the purinoceptor antagonist theophylline prevented the augmented rise in cyclic AMP induced by adenosine analogues but did not affect the enhancement of histamine release. In addition, pharmacological activation of the cell with a number of diverse ligands induced histamine release without any accompanying changes in cyclic AMP. This release was modulated by adenosine analogues in identical fashion to IgE-directed ligands but again without affecting cyclic AMP levels. These data clearly show that adenosine can augment histamine release independently of adenylate cyclase and seriously question the significance of the early rise in cyclic AMP as a causal event in immunological secretion of the amine.

Lamina propria mast cells in biopsies from children with Crohn's disease.

Biopsies from actively inflamed areas of terminal ileum or colon in children with Crohn's disease were examined both for lamina propria mast cell density and histamine content. These were reduced in comparison with those of normal controls. The release of histamine from biopsies of inflamed tissue did not differ greatly from that of normal tissue, either spontaneously or after receiving an antihuman IgE challenge.

Differential reactivity of isolated mast cells from the rat and guinea pig.

The effects of various chemical histamine liberators on isolated rat peritoneal, rat mesenteric and guinea-pig mesenteric mast cells were examined. All three cell types responded, but to different degrees, to calcium ionophores and surface active agents. The rat mesenteric cells also reponded, but less effectively than the peritoneal cells, to compound 48/80, peptide 401 from bee venom and ATP. Rat mesenteric cells were essentially refractory to the action of dextran and guinea-pig cells were almost totally unresponsive to the named secretagogues. These results show that there are marked functional differences between the mast cells examined and suggest that isolated tissue cells may usefuly complement rat peritoneal cells in the study of anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions.

Some studies on the effects of alpha-chymotrypsin on mast cells from the rat and other species.

We have examined the effect of alpha-chymotrypsin on isolated mast cells from different sources. The enzyme induced a dose-dependent secretion of histamine from purified and non-purified populations of rat peritoneal mast cells. The release was non-cytotoxic and was inhibited by metabolic blockers and extremes of temperature. The process was relatively slow, being essentially complete within 20 min, and was unaffected by phosphatidylserine. A substantial component of the secretion persisted in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The release was suppressed by extremes of pH and a variety of anti-allergic compounds and serine esterase inhibitors. In addition to the secretion of preformed mediators, alpha-chymotrypsin also induced the metabolism of arachidonic acid, resulting in the release of prostaglandin D2 in a dose-related manner from purified rat peritoneal mast cells. alpha-Chymotrypsin exhibited a marked tissue and species selectivity in its action and tissue mast cells of the rat, guinea pig and human were generally resistant to the enzyme except at cytotoxic concentrations. On the basis of these results, the possible role of endogenous serine esterases in mast cell activation is discussed.

Human lung mast cells release small amounts of interleukin-4 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in response to stimulation by anti-IgE and stem cell factor.

Recent reports have suggested that mast cells are capable of producing and releasing a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, these studies have mainly been carried out using murine tissue culture derived mast cells and it is known that these cells differ markedly in their functional properties from isolated human mast cells. It was therefore essential to study the release of cytokines from the latter cell type. On immunological stimulation with anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE) or stem cell factor (SCF), purified human lung mast cells released, within 2-10 min, small amounts of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (10.5 +/- 2.9 pg/10(6) mast cells and 17.9 +/- 7.9 pg/10(6) mast cells, respectively) and interleukin-4 (5.3 +/- 2.5 pg/10(6) mast cells and 8.0 +/- 3.2 pg/10(6) mast cells, respectively). After longer periods of activation (30 min-4 h). the amounts of cytokines released from stimulated cells decreased to levels which were below those of the unstimulated cells. This possible degradation of cytokines by mast cells could not be prevented by the addition of protease inhibitors.