The role of membrane bound sialic acid of rat mast cells in histamine release induced by compound 48/80 and derivatives as well as calcium.

Histamine release induced by compound 48/80 from rat mast cells is not dependent on extracellular Ca2+. Preincubation of mast cells with trypsin has only little effects on histamine release induced by this polycation. This work also demonstrates that histamine release induced by compound 48/80 and its analogues in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ depends on membrane bound sialic acid of the mast cell. Neuraminidase treatment of the cells in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ leads to histamine liberation. These findings suggest that sialic acid residues of the mast cell membrane constitute the site at which polycations exert their stimulatory actions of histamine liberation.