[Cellular histamine liberation and mediators of anaphylaxis]

A study of the release of histamine from basophils and mast cells is clearly important to understand the mechanisms of activation of these cells and the anti-allergic mechanisms of the drugs in use. Important information has been gained through the study of highly purified rodent mast cells as well as human mast cells and basophils of low purity, in many fields: morphology, triggering mechanisms, degranulation and mediator release. Recent findings obtained with purified human mast cells and basophils could better identify the specific potential mediators of these two cells. Many biochemical events have been associated with anaphylactic mediator release: recent evidence suggested that an elevation of intracellular calcium level was an essential event in the processes by which mediators are released.