Pharmacologic control of histamine release from human basophils induced by platelet-activating factor

We studied the effect of several compounds that influence different cell activation steps on platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced basophil histamine secretion. Isobutylmethylxanthine (1-100 microM), dimaprit (1-100 microM) and dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate (cAMP; 0.01-1 mM), that increase intracellular cAMP levels, concentration-dependently inhibited PAF-elicited histamine release. Rolipram (phosphodiesterase, PDE, isotype IV inhibitor; 0.1 nM-10 microM) potently inhibited histamine secretion activated by PAF, whereas SKF95654 (PDE III inhibitor; 0.01-10 microM) was ineffective. The kinase inhibitor, staurosporine (0.1-100 nM), enhanced PAF-induced basophil histamine release, whereas the G-protein inhibitor, pertussis toxin (1 microgram/ml), had an inhibitory effect. The specific lipoxygenase inhibitor, AA-861 (0.1-10 microM), inhibited PAF-activated histamine release, while the leukotriene A4 hydrolase inhibitor, bestatin (100 microM), had only a marginal effect. Finally, the Ca2+ channel entry blockers, verapamil (3-30 microM) and zinc (1.5-50 microM), inhibited PAF-induced histamine release. These results suggest that PAF is a unique secretagogue for human basophils unlike antigen, anti-IgE or univalent stimuli.