BASOPHIL RELEASABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA

Abstract

Mediator release may play a role in the pathogenesis of allergen-induced and nonallergen-induced asthma. Histamine release was studied from human basophils obtained from patients with asthma and from control subjects. These cells were challenged with several different stimuli: goat anti-human Ig[immunoglobulin]E-Fc, C5[complement component]-peptide, N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (f-met peptide), Ca2+ ionophore A23187, hyperosmolar mannitol and D2O. Release induced by any one stimulus was unrelated to the response to any other stimulus. The basophils of patients with asthma and control subjects responded similarly to most stimuli: they were significantly less responsive to C5-peptide and f-met peptide, and significantly more responsive to D2O. There is apparently a parameter of releasability that must be defined for each separate stimulus. Patients with asthma can be differentiated from normal persons by the response of their basophils to selected stimuli.