Background: The recently cloned human recombinant IgE-dependent histamine releasing factor (HrHRF) was initially thought to stimulate histamine release from human basophils from a subpopulation of allergic donors by interacting with the IgE molecules on the surface of these cells. Additional data suggest that HrHRF exerts its biologic effects by binding to a distinct cell surface structure and not to IgE.
Objective: To address the hypothesis that the HrHRF signaling pathway is distinct from the classical high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) pathway, we used pharmacologic agents known to affect basophil histamine release.
Methods: In this report we compared the effect of staurosporine, Bis II, Gö 6976, rottlerin, and pertussis toxin on histamine release from human basophils mediated by the following stimuli: HrHRF, polyclonal human anti-IgE antibody, and antigen, as well as the IgE-independent stimulus, FMLP.
Results: None of these modulators, except rottlerin, could differentiate histamine release induced by anti-IgE or antigen from that induced by HrHRF. Rottlerin enhanced HrHRF-mediated histamine release and dose dependently blocked FMLP-mediated release without affecting basophil activation by either anti-IgE or antigen.
Conclusion: These data suggest a unique signaling pathway for HrHRF and thus strengthen the hypothesis that HrHRF binds to a specific receptor other than IgE.