Histamine release induced by bacteria. A new mechanism in asthma?
Bacteria release histamine from human basophil leukocytes and mast cells. The release can be caused by an immunological (IgE-dependent) mechanism, but mostly we found a non-immunological (lectin-mediated) mechanism which indicates that mediator release triggered by bacteria can occur without the person being sensitized to the micro-organism in question. Both bacteria and bacterial products such as endotoxins potentiate basophil histamine release caused by allergens in allergic patients or by bacteria in persons sensitized to the micro-organisms. It is therefore tempting to speculate that bacteria and their products might be of importance for asthma by their capacity to release histamine and to potentiate mediator release.
D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000378:metabolism; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D037102:Lectins; D012475:Salmonella / Q000276:immunology
D004731:Endotoxins; D037102:Lectins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E