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Immunologic aspects of human reaginic allergy: An in vitro method and some applications

  • Teil I Symposium Über Allergie
  • Published:
Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Archiv für experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Suspensions of human leukocytes have been used for in vitro studies of reaginic allergy. These cells when isolated from ragweed sensitive patients, release histamine on reaction with antigen at threshold levels of 10−6 μg. The release process is characterized by a lag phase and a requirement for both calcium and magnesium. The divalent metal requirement has been observed throughout the reaction course. Physiologically competent cells are required for the release process, since cells subjected to 40°C, or treated with di-isopropylfluorophosphate show an impaired response. On these grounds, it has been concluded that the release process is a multi-step phenomenon and that the passage of histamine to the extracellular environment cannot be accounted for in terms of diffusion following membrane injury. Human leukocytes carry γ-globulins which can react with specific antibody in complement fixation, or in histamine release experiments.

Leukocytes from nonallergic individuals can be sensitized passively in vitro. The fixation of antibody to this cell surface is characterized by a high temperature coefficient and is enhanced by ethylenediaminetetraacetate.

Serum from untreated allergic donors as well as from donors who have received specific pollen therapy, binds antigen in the fluid phase of reaction mixtures, thereby inhibiting the release of histamine from the leukocytes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, The John Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md., U.S.A.

    Abraham G. Osler, Lawrence M. Lichtenstein & David A. Levy

Authors
  1. Abraham G. Osler
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  2. Lawrence M. Lichtenstein
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  3. David A. Levy
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Additional information

With 11 Figures in the Text

Support for this investigation has been available from the National Science Foundation (G-6205); The American Cancer Society, Inc. (T-257); The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the U.S. Public Health Service (AI-03151); and from the Office of The Surgeon General, Department of the Army, under the auspices of the Commission on Immunization of the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board (DA-49-193-MD-2468).

Fellow, U.S.P.H.S. Graduate Training Grant No. 5 TI GM 624, National Institutes of Health.

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Osler, A.G., Lichtenstein, L.M. & Levy, D.A. Immunologic aspects of human reaginic allergy: An in vitro method and some applications. Naunyn - Schmiedebergs Arch 250, 111–124 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258551

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