Histamine release from the cultured mouse mast cell line PT18 in response to immunologic and non-immunologic stimuli.

Cultured mouse mast cells that are dependent on spleen-derived factors for their proliferation and maintenance have been shown rapidly to release histamine in response to immunologic stimuli, concanavalin A, and ionophores A23187 and Br-x537A. These cells did not, however, release histamine when treated with compound 48/80 or adenosine 5'-triphosphate. Immunologically mediated histamine release was inhibited by theophylline and quercetin, but not by disodium cromoglycate. The results presented here are discussed in terms of the possible relationship of this cell line to mucosal mast cells.