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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis
Published on: May 31, 2021
The effect of nicotine on basophil histamine release
M E M Thompson-Cree1, M R Stevenson, M D Shields
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Institute of Clinical Science, The Queen's University of Belfast, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BJ, Northern Ireland, UK. l.cree@qub.ac.uk
Background:
Changes in the immune and inflammatory response are induced by smoking tobacco but underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.
Objective:
This study investigated the effect of nicotine agonists on histamine release from human basophils.
Methods:
Peripheral blood basophils were obtained from healthy volunteers. The effect of the nicotine agonists [-]-1-methyl-2-[3-pyridyl]pyrrolidine and (+)-nicotine di-p-toluoyltartrate salt on cell viability and anti-IgE induced histamine release was investigated.
Results:
Cell viability was not altered by preincubation with the agents for 15 min. Anti-IgE induced histamine release was significantly inhibited by preincubation (15 min, 37 degrees C) with [-]-1-methyl-2-[3-pyridyl]pyrrolidine at the highest concentration tested 10(-)3 M (p<0.01). Preincubation (15 min, 37 degrees C) with (+)-nicotine di-p-toluoyltartrate salt significantly inhibited anti-IgE induced histamine release at 10(-3)M and 10(-5) M (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
This study has demonstrated that nicotine agonists inhibit histamine release from human basophils. Further studies examining the effect of smoking on basophil activation are required.
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