The human recombinant histamine releasing factor: Functional evidence that it does not bind to the IgE molecule

Abstract

Background: We have previously shown that the human recombinant histamine releasing factor (HrHRF) caused histamine release from a subset of basophils from donors with allergy, and this release seemed to be dependent on the presence of a certain type of IgE, termed IgE+ . IgE molecules that did not support HrHRF-induced histamine release were termed IgE– . However, subsequently we demonstrated that HrHRF primes anti-IgE-antibody–induced histamine release from all basophils, irrespective of the type of IgE on the cell surface. Objective: Because these data suggested that HrHRF does not exert its biologic effects by binding to IgE, but rather that it interacted with a surface receptor on the basophil, we wanted to obtain functional evidence that HrHRF did or did not bind to the IgE molecule. Methods: The rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-SX38), which has been transfected to express a functional human FcϵRI (α-, β-, and γ-chains of the receptor) in addition to the normal rat FcϵRI, was used. The presence of the human FcϵRI receptor enables these cells to be sensitized with human IgE. Cells were passively sensitized with 1000 ng/mL human IgE+ or 1000 ng/mL human IgE– for 60 minutes at 37°C. Unsensitized cells served as a control. After the cells were washed, 1 × l0 5 cells were stimulated in the presence of 1 mmol/L Ca 2+ with 0.1 μg/mL anti-IgE, 40 μg/mL HrHRF, or 40 μg/mL mouse recombinant HRF (MrHRF), which has 96% homology to HrHRF. Results: Mean anti-IgE–induced histamine release was 33% ± 15%, and there was no difference between IgE+ sensitization (32% ± 12%) and IgE– sensitization (34% ± 18%). However, in contrast to human basophil experiments, neither HrHRF (0% ± 0%) nor MrHRF (3% ± 5%) caused histamine release in RBL cells sensitized with IgE+. In addition, priming the transfected RBL-SX38 cells or the parental cell line, RBL-2H3 cells, with HrHRF or MrHRF did not increase anti-IgE–induced histamine release. Conclusion: The results indicate that HrHRF does not bind to IgE, either IgE+ or IgE–. Therefore it appears likely that rHRF signals through its own specific receptor, which is not expressed or functional on RBL-SX38 or RBL-2H3 cells, but which seems to be expressed on basophils of atopic and nonatopic donors. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:642-8.)