Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vancomycin-induced release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells and a rat basophil cell line (RBL-1)

  • Allergy, Histamine and Kinins
  • Published:
Agents and Actions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rapid intravenous adminstration of the glycopeptide antibiotic, vancomycin, may cause a hypotensive reaction which can usually be prevented by infusing vancomycin in dilute solutions. The release of histamine from circulating cells such as basophils and tissue mast cells has been implicated in hypotensive reactions since the effects can be prevented by antihistamine pretreatment. The direct effects of vancomycin on histamine release were therefore investigated in rat peritoneal mast cells and rat leukemic basophils (RBL-1 cells). Suspension cultures of mast cells or RBL-1 cells were exposed to vancomycin for 30–60 minutes at concentrations comparable to those infused clinically (2.28 or 4.56 mg/ml). Vancomycin induced a time- and dose-dependent release of histamine into the culture media from both cell types. The reference degranulating agent, Compound 48/80 (CP 48/80), was also shown to induce histamine release from mast cells and RBL-1 cells. Mast cells were significantly more sensitive to vancomycin and CP 48/80 than RBL-1 cells and, unlike RBL-1 cells, were responsive to the inhibitory effects of cromolyn sodium on histamine release. Cromolyn sodium did not inhibit vancomycin-induced histamine release in RBL-1 or mast cells. Morphologically, mast cells exposed to either vancomycin or CP 48/80 exhibited dose-releated degranulation. On the other hand, treatment-related degranulation effects of either vancomycin or CP 48/80 on RBL-1 cells could not be reliably distinguished from controls by qualitative evaluation. Based upon these findings it is concluded that mast cells may represent a more useful model to evaluate the potential of investigational agents to relase histamine and to study mechanisms of histamine release than RBL-1 cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. E. Polk, D. P. Healy, L. B. Schwartz and D. T. Rock,Vancomycin and the red-man syndrome: pharmacodynamics of histamine release. Journal of Infective-Disease157 (3), 502–507 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  2. P. A. Southorn, D. J. Plevak, A. J. Wright and W. R. Wilson,Adverse effects of vancomycin administered in the perioperative period. Mayo-Clinic-Proceedings61 (9), 721–724 (1986).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. J. H. Levy, N. Kettlekamp, P. Goertz, J. Hermens and C. A. Hirshman,Histamine release by vancomycin: a mechanism for hypotension in man. Anesthesiology67 (1), 122–125 (1987).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. D. Lagunoff and T. W. Martin,Agents that release histamine from mast cells. Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol.23, 331–351 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. G. W. Read and E. F. Kiefer,Benzalkonium chloride: selective inhibitor of histamine release by compound 48/80 and other polyamines. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap.211, 711–715 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  6. W. D. M. Paton,Histamine release by compounds of simple chemical structure. Pharmacol. Rev.9, 269–328 (1957).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. A. Goth,Effects of drugs on mast cells. Adv. Pharmacol.5, 47–78 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. C. Isersky, H. Metzger and D. N. Buell,Cell cycle associated changes in IgE receptor during growth and differentiation of a rat basophilic leukemia cell line. J. Exptl. Med.141, 1147–1162 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. D. N. Buell, B. J. Fowlkes, H. Metzger and C. Isersky,Cell cycle and morphological changes during growth and differentiation of a rat basophilic leukemia cell line. Cancer Research36, 3131–3137 (1976).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. G. D. Bloom and O. Haegermark,A study on morphological changes and histamine release induced by compound 48/80 in rat peritoneal mast cells. Exp. Cell Res.40, 637 (1965).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. I. Kitchen,Effect of sodium cromoglycate on compound 48/80-induced release of histamine from isolated peritoneal mast cells of the rat. InTextbook of in vitro practical pharmacology. (Ed. Ian Kitchen), pp. 137–139. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Boston, Melbourne (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  12. S. H. Snyder, R. Baldessarini and J. Axelrod,A sensitive and specific enzymatic isotopic assay for tissue histamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics253, 544–549 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  13. M. A. Hayat, InPrinciples and techniques of electron microscopy: biological applications, vol. 1, 2nd ed. p. 57, University Park Press, Baltimore, MD (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  14. SAS User's Guide-Statistics,Version 5. Chapter 20. pp. 433–506. SAS Institute, Inc. Cary, North Carolina (1985).

  15. R. G. D. Steel and J. H. Torrie,Principles and procedures of statistics. pp. 347–349. McGraw-Hill, New York (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  16. W. E. Ehrich,Histamine in mast cells. Science118, 603 (1953).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. E. J. Kusner, B. Dubnick and D. J. Herzig,The inhibition by disodium cromoglycate in vitro of anaphylactically induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutcs184, 41–46 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  18. W. W. Doglas,Histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and their antagonists. InGoodman and Gilman's the pharmacological basis of therapeutics, 7ed. (Eds. A. G. Gilman, L. S. Goodman, T. W. Rall and F. Murad) p. 613, Macmillan Published Co., New York, NY (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  19. W. Lorenz, A. Doenicke, B. Schoning and E. Neugebauer,The role of histamine in adverse reactions to intravenous agents. InAdverse reactions to anaesthetic drugs. (Ed. J. A. Thornton) pp. 169–238, Elsevier/North Holland, Amsterdam (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  20. T. C. Theoharides,Mast cells: the immune gate to the brain. Life Sciences46, 607–617 (1990).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. F. L. Pearce,Functional heterogeneity of mast cells from different species and tissues. Klin. Wschr.60, 954–957 (1982).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. M. Ennis, W. Lorenz, W. Gerland and J. Heise,Isolation of mast cells from rabbit lung and liver: comparison of histamine release induced by the hypnotics Althesin ® and propanidid. Agents and Actions20, 219–222 (1987).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. M. Ennis, E. U. Amon and W. Lorenz,Histamine release from canine lung and liver mast cells induced by radiographic contrast media. Agents and Actions27, 101–106 (1989).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. D. Sampson and G. T. Archer,Release of histamine from human basophils. Blood29, 722–736 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. W. B. Shelly and L. Juhlin,In vitro effects of lecithinase A on the cytology of the human basophil. Journal of Laboratory & Clinical Investigation60, 589–597 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Physicians Desk Reference (PDR),44th Edition 1990. Medical Economics Company, Inc. at Oradell, NJ, pp. 1243–1245.

  27. M. Ennis and W. Lorenz,Modulation of histamine release by fatty acids. A new in vitro model investigating adverse drug reactions in various species. Ann. Fr. Anesth. Reanim.4, 124–128 (1985).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. M. P. Leite, C. R. deMoraes and J. C. Leme,In vitro and in vivo release of histamine by contrast media in the rat. Acta Radiologica Diagnosis16, 172–180 (1975).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Division, Lilly Research Laboratories, A Division of Eli Lilly and Company, Greenfield, Indiana

    P. D. Williams, D. A. Laska, T. J. Shetler, J. P. McGrath, S. L. White & D. M. Hoover

Authors
  1. P. D. Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. A. Laska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. J. Shetler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. P. McGrath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. L. White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. M. Hoover
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Williams, P.D., Laska, D.A., Shetler, T.J. et al. Vancomycin-induced release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells and a rat basophil cell line (RBL-1). Agents and Actions 32, 217–223 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01980877

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01980877

Keywords

Search

Navigation