Modulation of tryptase secretion from human colon mast cells by histamine

World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Feb 1;10(3):323-6. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i3.323.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the ability of histamine to modulate tryptase release from human colon mast cells and the potential mechanisms.

Methods: Enzymatically dispersed cells from human colons were challenged with histamine, anti-IgE or calcium ionophore A23187 (CI), and the cell supernatants after challenge were collected. Tryptase release was determined with a sandwich ELISA procedure.

Results: Histamine at concentrations from 1 ng/mL was able to induce a "bell" shape dose related release of tryptase from colon mast cells. The maximum release of tryptase was approximately 3.5 fold more than spontaneous release. As little as 10 ng/mL histamine showed a similar potency to 10 microg/mL anti-IgE in induction of tryptase release. Histamine induced release of tryptase initiated at 10 s when histamine (100 ng/mL) was added to cells, gradually increased thereafter, and completed at 5 min. Both pertussis toxin or metabolic inhibitors were able to inhibit histamine induced tryptase release. When histamine and anti-IgE were added to colon mast cells at the same time, the quantity of tryptase released was similar to that induced by anti-IgE alone. The similar results were observed with CI. However, when various concentrations of histamine were incubated with cells for 20 min before adding anti-IgE or CI, the quantity of tryptase released was similar to that was induced by histamine alone.

Conclusion: Histamine is a potent activator of human colon mast cells, which represents a novel and pivotal self-amplification mechanism of mast cell degranulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Colectomy
  • Colon / cytology
  • Colon / enzymology*
  • Histamine / metabolism*
  • Histamine / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mast Cells / drug effects
  • Mast Cells / enzymology*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / drug effects
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Tryptases

Substances

  • Histamine
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Tryptases