Comparison of histamine release in cord blood and adult blood

Abstract

Histamine release (HR) after stimulation with anti-IgE, concanavalin A (ConA) and Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) from 97 cord blood samples was compared to results obtained in identically treated blood samples from adults. The maximal HR obtained with anti-IgE did not differ significantly from the values obtained in adult blood, although a ten times higher concentration of anti-IgE was required for maximum release. Passive sensitization with IgE-rich plasma caused a significant increase in maximal anti-IgE-induced HR in the majority of cord blood samples, and the dose-response curve was similar to that obtained in adult blood. Challenge with ConA and FMLP caused a HR similar to that seen in adult blood, but the close correlation between anti-IgE- and concanavalin A-induced HR seen in adult blood was absent in cord blood.