title: Effect of hypo- and hyper-osmolarity on basophil histamine release.
abstract: The pattern of histamine release from peripheral white blood cells in response to hyper-(sodium chloride, mannitol) and hypo-osmolar (water) stimuli was studied in order to determine the differences between non-atopic control and atopic asthmatic patients in histamine release caused by osmolar changes. All subjects showed histamine release to both hyper- and hypo-osmolar stimuli and this response was reproducible. Viability studies and the effect of time and temperature indicated that, at the extremes of hypo- and hyper-osmolality, histamine release was associated with cell cytotoxicity. Asthmatics and controls showed no differences either in their level of spontaneous or hyper-osmolar sodium chloride induced histamine release, but asthmatics' cells were more responsive to mannitol over 600-800 mOsm/kg and less responsive to a hypo-osmolar stimulus under 80 mOsm/kg. This suggests that asthmatics' cells may differ from controls in th manner in which they respond to osmotic stimuli and this may be relevant in certain clinical situations.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008353:Mannitol; D012965:Sodium Chloride