Degranulation of human basophil leukocytes by anti-gamma E antibody.

Abstract

Leukocytes from normal individuals were incubated with 125I-labeled anti-γE for histamine release and the cells remaining after the reaction were examined by auto-radiography. The results showed that anti-γE degranulated basophil leukocytes. No serum component was essential for the degranulation of basophils. It was also found that ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA), cyclic-AMP, theophylline and diethylcarbamazine, which suppressed anti-γE-induced histamine release from leukocytes, inhibited degranulation of basophils as well. The results indicated that the reaction between anti-γE and basophil-bound γE is responsible for both histamine release from the cells and their degranulation, and that mechanisms of these two reactions share common enzymatic pathways.