Release of heparin-like substance and histamine from basophilic leucocytes separated by counterflow centrifugation elutriation.

Abstract

Separation of basophilic granulocytes from peripheral blood was carried out by counterflow centrifugation elutriation using a JE-6B roter. The release of histamine and heparin-like substance from basophilic leucocytes was estimated in healthy and asthmatic subjects. 1. The number of basophils was maximal (0.74 x 10(5] at a flow rate of 4.5 ml/min, and the purity reached a peak (11.8 +/- 2.0%) at a flow rate of 9 ml/min. 2. The content of histamine paralleled the number of basophils in each fraction. 3. The release mechanism of histamine induced by anti-IgE was similar to that of the heparin-like substance. 4. The release of histamine and the heparin-like substance was significantly higher in atopic asthmatics than in non-atopic cases.