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Histamine release from human leukocytes: modulation by cadmium ion.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|October 1, 1975
Summary
Cadmium inhibits antigen-induced histamine release by blocking calcium's role in the second stage. This suggests cadmium can help study calcium's function in histamine release.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Histamine release is a key process in allergic reactions.
- Calcium ions play a critical role in mediating histamine release from immune cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of cadmium on histamine release.
- To elucidate the role of calcium in cadmium-modulated histamine release.
Main Methods:
- Peripheral leukocytes from ragweed-sensitive patients were used.
- Histamine release was measured in the presence of varying cadmium concentrations.
- The influence of calcium levels, deuterium oxide, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) was assessed.
Main Results:
- Cadmium (greater than 10(-5) M) inhibited antigen-induced histamine release.
- Spontaneous histamine release was unaffected, except for enhancement at high cadmium concentrations (greater than or equal to 10(-3) M).
- Cadmium primarily affected the calcium-dependent second stage of histamine release, and increasing calcium antagonized this inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Cadmium acts as a calcium antagonist, useful for studying calcium's role in histamine release.
- Calcium's action in histamine release appears linked to the microtubular system.
- Cyclic AMP may enhance histamine release when calcium action is inhibited.