Histamine release from cord blood basophils is influenced by plasma IgE concentration, osmolarity, gestational age at birth and atopic disposition.

To characterize the normal values of histamine release from basophil leucocytes in cord blood after stimulation with both IgE-mediating and non-IgE-mediating secretagogues, a population of 1,684 newborn infants was studied using a microfiber-based method for detecting histamine release. A wide variation in anti-IgE and Concanavalin A-induced histamine release in the population was found. An increase in osmolarity in the release media selectively enhanced the maximal IgE-mediated histamine release, in addition to an increase in sensitivity in the dose response for anti-IgE and Concanavalin A. Both anti-IgE and Concanavalin A mediated histamine release were found to be significantly associated with the concentration of IgE in cord blood. Furthermore, an increased sensitivity to the IgE-mediated response and a close correlation between anti-IgE and Concanavalin A histamine release were found in the group of newborns with high IgE levels. Gestational age at birth and histamine release after stimulation with both IgE-mediating, and non-IgE mediating secretagogues were found to be significantly related, thus suggesting a continuing maturation of the human basophil leucocytes in the last weeks of gestation. Parental atopic disposition also affected basophil releasability in cord blood.