Release of highly-sulphated glycosaminoglycans and histamine from human basophils

A new assay for highly-sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) has been applied to the study of allergen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus)-induced release of GAG from human basophils. Highly-sulphated GAG, which was not heparin, was found only in basophil-containing cellular fractions of whole blood. Its release, like that of histamine, was Ca++-dependent. However, allergen-induced release of GAG from the basophils of atopic individuals exhibited a different time-course and dose-response from that of histamine, and may occur at least in part by a different mechanism.