Investigation of basophil cell proteinase release in progressive systemic sclerosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of basophil granulocytes in 37 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). The in vitro proteinase release test using Chromozyme TH as a chromogenic substrate was performed to measure the basophil cell releasability. Anti-IgE, calcium-ionophore (A 23187) and N-formyl-methyonil-leucyl-phenylalanine were used as activatory agents. Our results showed that the reactivity pattern to those agents did not differ in PSS compared to controls. Patients whose basophil cells release proteinases to all of the 3 activators tended to have more severe organ symptoms compared to the rest of the patients, while teleangiectasia was significantly less frequently (p < 0.02) found in cases with proteinase release. These findings suggest that there may be a certain relationship between basophil function and severity of the PSS.