Investigations on allergogenic properties of Tołpa Peat Preparation.

The ability of Tołpa Peat Preparation (TPP) to induce or enhance an allergic sensitization was tested on mice and guinea pigs. The levels of IgE antibody in the mouse sera and IgG1 as well as IgE antibody levels in guinea pig sera were evaluated by PCA (Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis) tests. TPP adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide gel (alum) and introduced into BALB/c mice by several subcutaneous injections was unable to stimulate the noticeable anti-TPP IgE antibody response.

The immunomodulating preparation Ukrain does not induce anaphylactic sensitization in mice and guinea pigs.

The ability of Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids derivative Ukrain to induce an anaphylactic sensitization was tested on mice and guinea pigs. The levels of IgE antibody in the mouse sera, and IgG1a, IgG1b as well as IgE antibody levels in guinea pig sera, were evaluated by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) tests.

Histamine release from human pulmonary mast cells induced by bacterial antigens.

Antigens of four bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus viridans, Branhamella catarrhalis) were tested for their ability to release histamine from human pulmonary mast cells recovered by means of bronchoalveolar lavages. For the sake of comparison the action of bacterial antigens on human mesenteric and adenoidal mast cells obtained by enzymatic dispersion of the tissues was studied. BAL mast cells released histamine in response to all studied bacterial antigens.

Histamine release from human adenoidal and mesenteric mast cells induced by bacterial antigens.

The histamine-releasing capability of Staphylococcus aureus antigens was examined in human adenoidal and mesenteric mast cells obtained by enzymic dispersion of tissues from non-allergic patients. Both populations of mast cells released histamine after challenge with bacterial protein in concentrations between 5-500 micrograms/ml. The release was dependent on the dose, temperature and metabolic energy.

Histamine-releasing properties of guinea pig cardiac mast cells.

The immunization of guinea pigs with OA + Al(OH)3 induced substantial IgG1a and IgG1b antibody response and low, transient IgE response, as examined by PCA test. Cardiac mast cells obtained by enzymatic dispersion method from sensitized animals released histamine in vitro after the challenge with specific antigen (histamine release up to 21%). Cardiac mast cells obtained from nonsensitized guinea pigs were sensitive to the action of ionophore A23187 and polymyxin B only when the agents were used in high concentrations (histamine release up to 25.

Histamine release from mast cells of various species induced by histamine releasing factor from human lymphocytes.

The aim of our work was to investigate the effect of histamine releasing factor (HRF), produced in vitro by lymphocytes obtained from atopic and non-atopic asthmatics, on mast cells of various species (mouse - peritoneal mast cells, hamster and rat - peritoneal and pleural mast cells, guinea-pig - mesenteric and pulmonary mast cells). We found that human HRF is able to release histamine from the examined mast cell populations in a dose-dependent fashion. Mast cells from various species differed in their susceptibility to the action of HRF; rat pleural and guinea-pig mesenteric and pulmonary mast cells were the most susceptible, while mouse and hamster peritoneal mast cells - the least susceptible.

Isolation and sensitivity of human mesenteric mast cells to immunological and nonimmunological histamine releasers.

Since recent studies have emphasized that mast cells from different tissues within a given species may exhibit marked differences in their functional properties, we have now examined the effect of some immunological and non-immunological histamine releasers on human mesenteric mast cells. The mesentery derived from the patients subjected to gall-bladder surgery was dispersed by collagenase (concentration of enzyme--1 mg/ml, time of incubation--90 min, 37 degrees C). The mesenteric cell suspension contained about 2% mast cells as identified by staining with toluidine blue.

The sensitivity of guinea pig mesenteric and pulmonary mast cells to some histamine releasers.

The mesenteric and pulmonary mast cells of guinea pigs were obtained by enzymatic dispersion of the tissues with the enzyme collagenase. The guinea pig mast cells obtained by this method were morphologically intact, as judged by light microscopy. The mast cells from lung and mesentery of actively sensitized guinea pigs released histamine in a dose-dependent fashion after challenge with specific antigen.

Histamine- and serotonin-releasing activity of the supernatants from guinea pig spleen cell cultures.

The action of supernatants from cultivated in vitro guinea pig spleen cells on the mast cells of guinea pigs, rats and hamsters was studied. It was found that supernatants from guinea pig spleen cell cultures are potent to release histamine from mast cells of the examined populations in a dose-dependent fashion. Histamine release from heterologous mast cells (especially from rat pleural mast cells) was significantly higher than that from homologous mesenteric mast cells.

Histamine-releasing activity of lymphocyte supernatants of guinea pig spleen cell cultures.

We demonstrated the production of a histamine releasing factor (HRF) by 24-h cultures of guinea pig spleen cells which were stimulated or not with specific antigen (ovalbumin, OA) or mitogen (phytohemagglutinins or concanavalin A). HRF induced the release of histamine from homologous mesenteric mast cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The HRF-induced histamine release was not high compared to the release induced by calcium ionophore A23187, but higher than that induced by compound 48/80, polymyxin B and con canavalin A.