Platelet aggregation and histamine release by immunological stimuli

Abstract

Platelet aggregation and histamine release were evaluated in normal and IgE pretreated human platelets exposed in vitro to IgE, anti-IgE and thrombin. The response of platelets from atopic donors directly stimulated with anti-IgE was also evaluated. Histamine release was measured by fluorimetric analysis of histamine content in platelets and in supernatants. The morphology of platelets exposed to immunological and non-immunological stimuli was recorded using an electron microscope. A detectable amount of histamine was measured in quiescent platelets. Their exposure to varying concentrations of thrombin produces a progressive aggregation which runs parallel to histamine release. The effects were significantly enhanced in platelets pretreated with IgE. Incubation of normal platelets with increasing concentrations of IgE myeloma protein, or with anti-human IgE antibody was ineffective on both aggregation and histamine release. However, incubation of platelets passively sensitized with IgE-myeloma protein with different concentrations of anti-human IgE antibody produces a concentration-dependent increase both in aggregation and histamine release. The same effects were obtained using platelets from atopic donors directly stimulated with anti-IgE. The electron microscopic pattern of platelet aggregation induced by thrombin was indistinguishable from that evoked by anti-IgE in IgE pretreated platelets. Loratadine, a non-sedative H1-receptor blocker, significantly abated platelet aggregation and histamine release induced by anti-IgE in IgE pretreated platelets.