Cord blood basophil releasability: evaluation of histamine release and leukotriene C4 generation

This study was performed to evaluate mediator (histamine and leukotriene C4) release from cord blood and adult blood basophils, challenged with IgE-independent (calcium ionophore A23187) and IgE-mediated (anti-IgE) stimuli. IgE-independent mediator release was similar in adult blood and umbilical blood basophils. Conversely, the anti-IgE-induced histamine and immunoreactive leukotriene C4 (iLTC4) release was significantly reduced in cord blood basophils. Passive sensitization with an IgE-rich serum was followed by a significant increase in the number of eluted IgE molecules from cord blood basophils and by an increase in IgE-mediated histamine release. iLTC4 production was not affected by passive sensitization of umbilical blood basophils. The IgE-dependent mediator release from cord blood basophils was not correlated with the number of cell-bound IgE. In addition, histamine secretion and leukotriene C4 production from cord blood basophils seem to be independent events.