The in vitro Release of Leukocyte Histamine by Staphylococcal Antigens

Abstract

Leukocyte histamine was released in vitro by crude staphylococcal antigen supernatants containing protein antigen A or by electrophoretically separated protein antigen A. Leukocyte histamine was not released by similar antigen supernatants from a strain which did not contain protein antigen A, nor by teichoic acids or teichoic acid-mucopeptide complexes. Pre-incubation of antigens with sera containing antigen A precipitins consistently blocked leukocyte histamine release.