Human basophil releasability. VIII. Increased basophil releasability in patients with scleroderma.
We evaluated basophil releasability in 16 female patients with scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) and in 16 normal age- and sex-matched donors. Basophils from patients with scleroderma released significantly more histamine "spontaneously" than did those from normal donors (12.9 +/- 2.1% versus 4.5 +/- 0.7%; P less than 0.0005). Basophil reactivity (maximal percentage histamine release) to anti-IgE was higher in patients with scleroderma than in controls (57.0 +/- 7.5% versus 35.4 +/- 7.8%; P less than 0.05). Basophil sensitivity (the concentration of anti-IgE that causes 40% of maximal percentage histamine release) to anti-IgE in scleroderma patients was similar to that found in controls (4.6 +/- 2.8 x 10(-2) micrograms/ml versus 2.3 +/- 1.0 x 10(-1) micrograms/ml; P not significant). Scleroderma patients also showed enhanced releasability compared with that of the controls when challenged in vitro with interleukin-3 (8.3 +/- 1.7% versus 3.2 +/- 0.6%; P less than 0.01). Releasability induced by the formyl-containing tripeptide, f-met peptide, was significantly higher in the scleroderma patients than in the controls at the 2 lower concentrations used. No differences in basophil reactivity and sensitivity to f-met peptide and calcium ionophore A23187 were found between patients and normal donors. These results show that spontaneous basophil releasability and releasability in response to IgE cross-linking and activation of interleukin-3 receptors are increased in patients with scleroderma.
de Paulis
A
A
Department of Medicine, Second School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
Valentini
G
G
Spadaro
G
G
Lupoli
S
S
Tirri
G
G
Marone
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009239:N-Formylmethionine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*
D007377:Interleukin-3; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000001:Calcimycin; D009239:N-Formylmethionine