Comparative studies of human basophils and mast cells

Atopic disease in humans results primarily from the activity of tissue mast cells and circulating basophils. These two very similar cell types have recently been purified to near homogeneity and studies have begun to identify the biochemical mechanisms of mediator release, to explore the effects of pharmacologic manipulation of the response, and to determine unambiguously which mediators are derived from mast cells and basophils. This report will review studies examining various parameters of histamine release, the role of cyclic AMP in histamine release, and the production of arachidonic acid metabolites and their pharmacologic modulation.