Inhibition of histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells by protein synthesis inhibitors

Effects of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, on histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells were examined. RBL-2H3 cells sensitized by rat antiserum to ascaris extract were challenged by the antigen, and histamine release during a period of 30 min was measured. Pretreatment with cycloheximide (1 μg/ml) for 1 h significantly inhibited the antigen-induced histamine release (36% inhibition). The cycloheximide-induced inhibition of histamine release was abolished when the cells were further incubated in the absence of cycloheximide for 2 h. Pretreatment with puromycin (3 and 10 μg/ml), an inhibitor of protein synthesis, or actinomycin D (0.1-1 μg/ml), an inhibitor of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis, also inhibited the antigen-induced histamine release in a concentration-dependent manner. Both ionomycin- and thapsigargin-induced histamine release were also inhibited by pretreatment with cycloheximide. Measurement of intracellular Ca²⁺ levels using quin 2 revealed that cycloheximide inhibits the increase in Ca²⁺ levels induced by the antigen, ionomycin or thapsigargin. These results suggest that histamine release induced by the antigen, ionomycin and thapsigargin in RBL-2H3 cells is mediated by protein(s) which is newly synthesized and inactivated rapidly, and the newly synthesized protein(s) is involved in the increase of intracellular Ca²⁺ levels induced by these stimulants.