Modulation of histamine release by sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase inhibition

Previous studies have shown that a sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor is present in the plasma of allergic subjects in whom enhanced histamine releasability has also been reported.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of in vitro sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase inhibition on whole blood histamine release.

Samples obtained from 12 patients with allergic rhinitis and 12 nonallergic subjects were incubated in duplicate for 30 minutes with anti-IgE antibody (100 micrograms/mL) or control buffer following a 0-, 10-, 20-, 30-, 60-, 120- and 180-minute preincubation with ouabain (3.0 mM) or diluent. Cell supernatants were assayed for histamine by radioimmunoassay and results were expressed as a percentage of total histamine release.

Mean (+/- 1 SEM) anti-IgE induced release, in the presence and absence of ouabain, respectively, for allergic subjects was 27.5 +/- 5.5 and 21.0 +/- 4.5 (ten minutes, P < 0.05), 30.3 +/- 6.0 and 22.4 +/- 4.8 (20 minutes, P < .025), 28.9 +/- 5.2 and 23.5 +/- 4.1 (30 minutes), 33.8 +/- 7.1 and 26.7 +/- 5.4 (60 minutes, P < .05), 43.2 +/- 7.5 and 24.3 +/- 4.6 (120 minutes, P < .001), and 34.5 +/- 5.0 and 29.8 +/- 5.4% (180 minutes). Spontaneous histamine release in allergic subjects was also significantly increased by ouabain. Mean (+/- SEM) spontaneous release, in the presence and absence of ouabain, respectively, for allergic subjects was 2.0 +/- 0.5 and 0.9 +/- 0.2 (60 minutes, P < .025), 2.8 +/- 0.5 and 1.9 +/- 0.4 (120 minutes, P < .05), and 5.4 +/- 1.5 and 3.9 +/- 0.8% (180 minutes, P < .005). Ouabain did not significantly alter histamine release in non-allergic subjects.

These data show that ouabain induced a significant increase in both spontaneous and induced histamine release in allergic subjects. In vivo, sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase inhibition may have an effect on histamine release in allergic subjects.