Supernormal histamine release and normal cytotoxic activity of beige (Chédiak-Higashi syndrome) rat mast cells with giant granules.

The beige rat is an animal model of the Chédiak-Higashi syndrome. Since mast cells can be easily purified from the peritoneal cavity of rats, we investigated the function of beige rat mast cells with giant granules by using quantitative methods. Beige and normal rat mast cells were sensitized with anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) IgE antibodies and stimulated by DNP conjugated with human serum albumin. The proportion of histamine released to total histamine was significantly greater in beige rat mast cells than in normal rat mast cells. Since the supernormal histamine release of beige rat mast cells was observed after treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, calcium ionophore A23187, substance P or compound 48/80, it appeared to be attributable to the enlargement in granules in beige rat mast cells. Spontaneous cytotoxic activity of mast cells was assayed by incubating purified mast cells with 51Cr-labelled WEHI-164 cells. Both beige and normal rat mast cells showed significant cytotoxic activity, but no significant difference was detectable between beige and normal rat mast cells. Even after IgE-mediated stimulation, no significant difference in cytotoxic activity was detectable between beige and normal rat mast cells either. Giant granules of beige rat mast cells did not appear to influence the cytotoxic activity of mast cells.