Increased Sensitivity of Lymphocytes from Atopic Individuals to Histamine‐Induced Suppression

Abstract

Histamine depressed lymphocyte reactivity to phytohemagglutinin and, to a lesser degree, concanavalin A, when administered simultaneously with mitogen to lymphocyte Cultures. Addition of histamine at later times to the cultures appeared to have a slightly enhancing effect on the lymphocyte response. Stimulation of lymphocytes with pokeweed mitogen was in some CMM enhanced, even by high concentrations of Lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from atopic individuals were more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of histamine than Lymphocytes from nonatopic individuals. The sensitivity appeared age‐dependent, but within each age group histamine evoked significantly more suppression on lymphocytes from atopic than from nonatopic individuals. The possibility that the altered reactivity of lymphocytes to histamine, which appears to be associated with atopic allergy, is of pathogenic importance, is discussed, and a hypothesis for the development of atopic disease is proposed.

Changes in bronchial anaphylactic reactivity induced in guinea‐pigs by long‐term treatment with histamine H2‐agents

“…In a number of experimental systems in vitro, the activity of lymphoid cells was shown to be affected by treatment with histamine or histamine H2-receptor agonists/antagonists. These systems include antigenor mitogen-induced lymphtocyte proliferation (Strannegard & Strannegard, 1977;Wang & Zweiman, 1978;Brostoff etal., 1980;Hebert et al, 1980;Ogden & Hill, 1980;Suzuki & Huchet, 1981), lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in different systems (Plaut et al, 1975;Schwartz et al, 1980;1981), production of migration inhibition factor (Rocklin, 1976), and antibody production (Lima & Rocklin, 1981;Szewczuk, et al, 1981). Strannegard & Strannegard (1977) also showed that lymphocytes from atopic individuals are more sensitive to inhibition of PHA-induced thymidine incorporation by histamine than cells from normal individuals.…”

“…These systems include antigenor mitogen-induced lymphtocyte proliferation (Strannegard & Strannegard, 1977;Wang & Zweiman, 1978;Brostoff etal., 1980;Hebert et al, 1980;Ogden & Hill, 1980;Suzuki & Huchet, 1981), lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in different systems (Plaut et al, 1975;Schwartz et al, 1980;1981), production of migration inhibition factor (Rocklin, 1976), and antibody production (Lima & Rocklin, 1981;Szewczuk, et al, 1981). Strannegard & Strannegard (1977) also showed that lymphocytes from atopic individuals are more sensitive to inhibition of PHA-induced thymidine incorporation by histamine than cells from normal individuals. In most of these systems histamine has also to be added in the initial part of the reaction to exert its effect; furthermore, inhibition is generally only partial.…”