title: Bacterial histamine release by immunological and non-immunological lectin-mediated reactions.
abstract: The mechanisms of bacteria-induced histamine release were examined in vitro in human leukocytes and rat mast cells. Three types of bacterial responders were found. In persons with IgE-bearing basophilocytes bacterial histamine release could be triggered by two different mechanisms, an IgE-dependent mechanism where removal of IgE abolished the release and a non-immunological mechanism where this was not the case. In responders with no IgE-bearing cells bacterial histamine release was caused by a non-immunological mechanism. The non-immunological mechanism was further substantiated by release in isolated mast cells from germ-free rats. These experiments suggest a direct interaction between bacteria and target cell, and experiments with multi-washed bacteria and bacteria cell wall preparations indicate the possibility of the bacteria wall interacting with the target cell. It is probable that the non-immunological mechanism depends on lectin-mediated reactions, since bacteria-induced histamine release was inhibited by lectin-binding sugars as is release caused by plant lectins.
mesh_terms: D001491:Basophils / Q000378:metabolism; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000494:pharmacology; D007223:Infant; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E