Characteristics of Candida Allergen in Bronchial Asthma

Histamine Release from Basophil Leucocytes

Abstract

A total of 52 bronchial asthmatics were studied. In 30 cases with a positive skin test to C. albicans and 30 cases with a positive skin test to house dust, histamine release from basophils was examined by stimulation with the corresponding allergen extract.
1. Histamine release from basophils induced by house dust correlated to a certain extent with patient age and age at onset of the disease. On the other hand, C. albicans-induced release of histamine did not correlate with these factors.
2. House dust-induced release of histamine from basophils also correlated with serum IgE levels, while C. albicans-indeced release had no correlation with serum IgE levels.
3. It was suggested that histamine release induced by C. albicans as well as house dust-induced release is an IgE-mediated reaction. The amount of histamine release induced by C. albicans increased with high RAST scores.
4. There was no correlation between concentrations of serum specific IgG antibodies and histamine release induced by house dust and C. albicans.
5. Basophils of some cases with a negative RAST score released a significant amount of histamine by stimulation with C. albicans.