title: Cytokine modulation of basophil histamine release in wasp-venom allergy.
abstract: We report the effect of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and of other cytokines on antigen-induced basophil histamine release in wasp-venom-allergic subjects. Leukocytes from 12 patients with documented anaphylactic sensitivity to wasp venom were preincubated in the presence or absence of IL-3, granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-5, IL-8, or stem cell factor (SCF). Washed cells were then exposed to venom and to other secretagogues, and histamine release in the supernatant was measured fluorometrically. Preincubation of leukocytes with IL-3, GM-CSF, or IL-5 (0.02-2 ng/ml), but not with IL-8 and SCF, caused a dose-dependent enhancement of antigen-induced basophilic histamine release in all subjects tested. Mean maximum increase was about 100% for IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF. The priming effect of IL-3 was rapid, persisted up to 12 h, and was not accompanied by a change in cellular histamine. IL-3 had a comparable enhancing effect when basophils were triggered with anti-IgE or N-formylmethionylphenylalanine (FMP). By contrast, IL-3 had no effect on substance-P-induced histamine release. The significant enhancement of basophil releasability to antigen in wasp-venom allergy by very low concentrations of IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5 suggests that cytokines in the basophil (mast-cell?) microenvironment could be critical factors in determining the variability of sting reactions in Hymenoptera-venom-allergic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, CHU Sart Tilman, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radermecker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leclercq
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Corhay
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; D007378:Interleukins; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D014862:Wasp Venoms; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor