Selective potentiation of IGE-dependent histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells by stem cell factor

Effect of stem cell factor on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells was studied. Although stem cell factor did not evoke histamine release by itself, it clearly potentiated histamine release from sensitized mast cells caused by antigen, anti-IgE and concanavalin A. However, stem cell factor did not affect histamine release caused by compound 48/80, calcium ionophore A23187 and substance P. Although maximum potentiation of antigen-induced histamine release by stem cell factor was accomplished after 1-10 minute-preincubation, potentiation was decline after a longer incubation period. Potentiation of histamine release by phosphatidylserine and non-mast cells in the rat peritoneal cavity was incubation time-dependent. Potentiation by stem cell factor was additive to that by phosphatidylserine or non-mast cells. These results indicate that stem cell factor selectively potentiates IgE-dependent histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, and suggest that the mechanism involved is distinct from that of phosphatidylserine or non-mast cells in the rat peritoneal cavity.