Activation of the plasma kinin forming cascade along cell surfaces.

Proteins of the plasma kinin-forming cascade bind to endothelial cells and activation of the cascade can be initiated along the surface. The light chain of high molecular weight kininogen (HK) (domain 5) and factor XII bind to gC1qR, the heavy chain of HK (domain 3) binds to cytokeratin 1 and the interactions are zinc dependent. Prekallikrein binds to domain 6 of HK. Antisera to gC1qR and cytokeratin 1 inhibit binding and activation. Incubation of normal plasma with endothelial cells leads to gradual conversion of prekallikrein to kallikrein, while plasma deficient in factor XII or HK are inactive within a 2-hour time frame. Thus factor XII is critical for activation to proceed. Augmentation of these reactions may occur when C1 inhibitor is functionally deficient or with ACE inhibitors which also inhibit kininases.

Effect of neurotropin on the binding of high molecular weight kininogen and Hageman factor to human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the autoactivation of bound Hageman factor.

Bradykinin is generated by activation of the plasma kallikrein-kinin (K-K) cascade and contributes to the symptoms of allergic reactions and the perception of pain. Neurotropin is a biological material obtained from inflamed rabbit skin inoculated with vaccinia virus, which is widely used clinically in Japan as an effective agent for these disorders. Factor XII (FXII) and high molecular weight kininogen (HK), two critical constituents of the plasma K-K cascade, bind to endothelial cells, and bound FXII is autoactivated in the presence of zinc ions. We have investigated the effects of Neurotropin on the interactions of FXII and HK with endothelial cells. Neurotropin inhibited the binding of both proteins to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and inhibited autoactivation of FXII upon HUVEC in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest that the ameliorating effects of Neurotropin in allergic disorders and pain syndromes may be related to this ability to inhibit activation of the K-K cascade and, consequently, the formation of bradykinin.

Mast cell derived heparin activates the contact system: a link to kinin generation in allergic reactions.

Contact activation occurs when plasma comes in contact with negatively charged manmade surfaces but no substance that initiates contact activation in vivo has been identified. We have isolated a mast cell heparin proteoglycan (MC-HepPG) from a Furth mouse mastocytoma-derived cell line that is analogous to human tissue-type mast cell HepPG. This material and other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were tested for their ability to accelerate the reciprocal activation of factor XII and prekallikrein and the autoactivation of factor XII. Quantitative analysis showed the MC-HepPG to be as active as dextran sulfate on a weight basis; hog intestine heparin, dermatan sulfate, keratan polysulfate and chondroitin sulfate C were less active, other sulfated polysaccharides were essentially inactive. Incubation of MC-HepPG in 1:4 diluted plasma resulted in complete cleavage of high molecular weight kininogen in a factor XII-dependent reaction. All of the MC-HepPG dependent reactions described above were inhibited by preincubation of MC-HepPG with heparinase I and II but not by pretreatment with heparitinase, chondroitinase ABC or the serine protease inhibitor aPMSF thus indicating that heparin proteoglycan is indeed acting as an initiating 'surface'. We analysed the proteoglycan preparation by HPLC gel filtration. Fractions spanning a molecular weight range of > 400000-8000 were active initiators. Comparison of the chromatograms obtained before and after cleavage of GAG side chains from the protein core suggested that dissociated GAGs in the MW range 69000-17000 are the most active species rather than the complete proteoglycan. MC-HepPG GAGs therefore represent a physiologic macromolecule with activity comparable to non-physiological surfaces in a purified system and with the capability to induce activation of the contact system in diluted plasma. Its ability to promote kinin generation links cellular and humoral inflammatory responses in the perivasculature and provides a possible explanation for the elevated kinin levels observed after allergen exposure.

Further characterization of histamine releasing chemokines present in fractionated supernatants derived from human mononuclear cells.

BACKGROUND: Histamine releasing factors (HRF) are members of the beta chemokine family of cytokines and have been characterized using recombinant proteins. Mononuclear cell and/or platelet supernatants have been shown to contain HRF and the initial void peak obtained using Mono Q anion exchange chromatography possesses such activity, as do two later peaks eluted from the column. OBJECTIVE: We wished to further characterize the activity present in the void peak and determine which of the chemokines present are responsible for the activity measured. METHODS: We fractionated the void peak obtained from Mono Q chromatography on Mono S. The elution profile of individual chemokines was determined and the fractions were assayed for histamine releasing capability. We used monospecific antisera to inhibit the activity and quantitate the contribution of each protein. RESULTS: The fractions contained MCP-1/MCAF, CTAPIII/NAP-2, IL8, and a small quantity of RANTES. About 90-95% of the total histamine containing capability was attributable to MCP-1/MCAF. There was a small contribution by CTAPIII/NAP-2, and RANTES, and no activity associated with IL8. CONCLUSION: MCP-1/MCAF is the critical HRF present in the initial void peak obtained by anion exchange chromatography of supernatants derived from human mononuclear cells and platelets. The alpha chemokine CTAPIII/NAP-2 has relatively weak activity and IL8 has none although they are prominent in this fraction and overlap with MCP-1/MCAF. RANTES makes a minor contribution but most of it is eluted in a later peak.

Chemokines and the allergic response.

The beta subfamily of chemokines contains cytokine-like factors which are chemotactic for human basophils and eosinophils. The also stimulate these cells to secrete pro-inflammatory substances such as histamine or eosinophil cationic protein. MCAF/MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, RANTES and MIP-1 alpha all attract and stimulate basophils; MCP-1 and MCP-3 are the most potent. RANTES, MCP-3 and to a lesser degree MIP-I alpha are chemotactic factors and activators of eosinophils. Cytokines such as IL3, IL5 and GM CSF can augment the responses of these cells to the various chemokines and function as primers. These substances may have particular importance as mediators of allergic inflammation, particularly the late phase component of the response.

Assembly of the human plasma kinin-forming cascade along the surface of vascular endothelial cells.

The generation of bradykinin by contact activation requires autoactivation of factor XII (Hageman factor) upon initiating surfaces, conversion of prekallikrein to kallikrein, and digestion of high-molecular-weight (HMW) kininogen. Endothelial cells have a high-affinity receptor that binds either HMW kininogen or factor XII in a zinc-dependent interaction, and activation of factor XII can occur along this surface to initiate kinin formation. Tissue injury, exposure of proteoglycans, or release of mast cell heparin will markedly accelerate these reactions. The bradykinin released binds to endothelial cell B-2 receptors along the inner surface of blood vessels which results in dilatation and increased vascular permeability.

Chemokines of the alpha, beta-subclass inhibit human basophils' responsiveness to monocyte chemotactic and activating factor/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.

Monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF) is the most potent cytokine that activates basophils to release histamine. The response of human basophils to either simultaneous or sequential addition of the chemokines RANTES, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, platelet factor (PF)4, connective tissue activating peptide III (CTAP-III), interleukin (IL)-8, and inflammatory protein (IP)-10 on MCAF-induced histamine release was studied. Simultaneous addition of MCAF and any of the chemokines studied evoked an augmented response as measured by histamine release, whereas preincubation of leukocytes or purified basophils (80%) with these chemokines decreased MCAF-induced histamine release in a dose-dependent manner. Histamine release by anti-IgE remained unchanged. When tested at 5 x 10(-9) mol/L, the decrease in histamine release by RANTES was 69.2% +/- 3.5%, by MIP-1 alpha 48.8% +/- 3.1%, by MIP-1 beta 42.9% +/- 3.1%, by PF4 56.5% +/- 2.9%, by IL-8 41.2% +/- 2.2, by CTAP III 27% +/- 4.4%, and by IP-10 15.3% +/- 2.6%. The peak inhibition of histamine release by the chemokines was reached within 10 minutes of preincubation with basophils and remained unchanged thereafter. Washing basophils after preincubation with chemokines abolished the inhibition, with the exception of desensitization by low concentrations of MCAF. With the exclusion of MCAF and RANTES, none of the chemokines (at the concentration range of 5 x 10(-8) to 5 x 10(-11)) induced significant (> 10% above spontaneous) histamine release from basophils. Preincubation of basophils with C5a (5 x 10(-10) mol/L) did not affect histamine release, whereas preincubation with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (10 ng/ml) or IL-5 (10 ng/ml) enhanced MCAF-induced histamine release by 121.8% +/- 10.1% and 108% +/- 10.8%, respectively. We have therefore characterized RANTES, MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta, CTAP III, PF4, IL-8, and IP-10 as inhibitors of MCAF-induced histamine release. Although the results are consistent with receptor blockade, the alpha and beta chemokines appear to interact with separate receptors linked to G proteins; thus, a mechanism of receptor class desensitization is proposed. Interaction of this group of cytokines at the site of allergic inflammation may modulate a function of basophils to initiate, augment, or inhibit histamine release.

Activation of human Hageman factor (factor XII) in the presence of zinc and phosphate ions.

Hageman factor (FXII, HF) is a monomeric plasma zymogen that is capable of autoactivation to the serine protease FXIIa in the presence of negatively charged surfaces such as glass, kaolin, ellagic acid and dextran sulfate. FXIIa activates prekallikrein to kallikrein which in turn digests high molecular weight kininogen (HK) to produce the vasoactive peptide bradykinin (BK). Known natural activators of FXII and the contact system include heparin, sulfatides, phospholipids, endotoxin, and urate crystals. We now present evidence that FXII can undergo activation in the presence of phosphate ions (P(i)) and certain divalent metal ions. FXII (1 microgram/ml) and prekallikrein (1 microgram/ml), in HEPES buffered saline, pH 7.4, were incubated with 0-100 mM sodium phosphate, 0-200 microM zinc chloride, and 0.6 mM Chromozym-PK; absorbance at 405 nm was monitored. Graphic analysis of the data indicated reciprocal activation of the two enzymes within 60 min which was dependent upon Zn(II) and P(i). While Ca(II) did not replace Zn(II) as an activator it significantly enhanced Zn(II)- and P(i)-dependent activation of FXII. Maximum activation occurred at 1-10 mM P(i) and approximately 25 microM Zn(II). Co(II), Cu(II) and Ca(II) were negative while Fe(II) was positive in the presence of 1 mM P(i). Cl-, SO4= and CO3=/HCO3- ions were negative when tested in the presence of 50 microM Zn(II). P(i) and Zn(II) ions promoted activation of FXII alone (but not prekallikrein) and the kinetics of this reaction suggested autoactivation. These data therefore suggest that physiological concentrations of P(i) and Zn(II) may be sufficient for a low-level turnover of the contact system in plasma which in turn may be responsible for the background levels of cleaved HK and BK found in normal plasma.

Human Hageman factor (factor XII) and high molecular weight kininogen compete for the same binding site on human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Factor XII (FXII, plasma concentration 375 nM) is a critical member of the plasma contact activation system and is the zymogen form of FXIIa, a serine protease involved in intrinsic coagulation, complement activation, activation of factor VII, and generation of the vasoactive peptide bradykinin. As such its interaction with cells involved in inflammatory pathways can be of physiologic and pathologic significance. We have studied the binding of FXII to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC were incubated with 125I-FXII, and cell-bound factor FXII was measured. FXII bound to HUVEC saturably in a zinc-dependent manner. The optimal zinc concentration was 50-60 microM. Binding of labeled FXII was drastically reduced when a 200-fold molar excess of unlabeled FXII was included in the incubation mixture at time zero or when added at 60 min during a 150-min time course experiment. Quantitative binding experiments indicated a dissociation constant of 144 nM with 10-12 million binding sites/endothelial cell. Unlabeled high molecular weight kininogen (HK) inhibited the binding of labeled FXII with a Ki of 98 nM, whereas unlabeled FXII inhibited the binding of labeled HK to HUVEC with a Ki of 152 nM. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of cell-bound 125I-FXII showed that factor XII underwent limited proteolysis and the molecular weights of the fragments were similar in size to activated FXII. The cell-bound activated factor XII was also able to activate prekallikrein. These data suggest that (i) FXII binds to HUVEC specifically, saturably, and reversibly in a zinc-dependent manner, (ii) HK and FXII may compete with each other for the same cell-surface receptor/s, and (iii) cell-bound FXII is capable of undergoing activation to FXIIa.

Human high molecular weight kininogen binds to human umbilical vein endothelial cells via its heavy and light chains.

High molecular weight kininogen (HK) is a multifunctional plasma glycoprotein that occupies a critical position in pathways that link inflammation and coagulation. Excision of the vasoactive peptide bradykinin by plasma kallikrein results in kinin-free HK that consists of a 65-Kd N-terminal heavy chain (HK-HC) linked to the C-terminal 45-Kd light chain (HK-LC) by a disulfide bridge. HK-HC is an inhibitor of SH-proteases and HK-LC contains the binding sites for coagulation cofactors prekallikrein and factor XI. HK has previously been shown to bind specifically to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a zinc(2+)-dependent manner by a single class of high-affinity binding sites. We have further characterized that interaction in order to determine the cell-binding regions of HK. Competition binding experiments have indicated that either HK-LC or HK-HC was able to inhibit the binding of labeled HK with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 77 nmol/L and 89 nmol/L, respectively. Cleaved two-chain HK (HKa) had an IC50 of 73 nmol/L, whereas uncleaved HK had an IC50 of 335 nmol/L. Direct binding experiments have indicated that HUVEC bind both purified [125I]HK-HC and [125I]HK-LC in a zinc(2+)-dependent manner and that HK-LC did not displace bound HK-HC. The light chain of low molecular weight kininogen or prekallikrein-binding region of HK did not inhibit the binding of HK to HUVEC. Our results, therefore, indicate that (1) HK is capable of binding to endothelial cells via both heavy and light chain moieties, (2) HKa has a higher affinity to HUVEC, and (3) purified heavy and light chains are capable of directly binding to HUVEC. The data are consistent with the presence of a single high-affinity site for HK on endothelial cells within which are subsites that bind to heavy and light chains.

Characterization of the human basophil response to cytokines, growth factors, and histamine releasing factors of the intercrine/chemokine family.

We have tested the histamine releasing properties and priming abilities of a wide range of recombinant or purified cytokines and growth factors on the basophils of 20 subjects (10 atopic and 10 nonatopic). We found that monocyte chemotactic and activating factor/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCAF/MCP-1), RANTES, human macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha and human inflammatory protein-1 beta, Connective tissue activating peptide III and Neutrophil Activating Peptide-2 (NAP-2) cause histamine release from basophils and are all members of the intercrine/chemokine family. MCAF/MCP-1 was as potent as anti-IgE or C5a and it is clearly the major contributor to histamine releasing factor activity. RANTES was the second major histamine releasing factor among the positive cytokines. Both MCAF/MCP-1 and RANTES are present in conditioned mononuclear cell media and can be separated using Mono Q anion exchange chromatography. We also demonstrated that RANTES has unusual chromatographic properties in spite of its isoelectric point of > 9.0 because it is largely found in peak-2 of the Mono Q column rather than peak-1 in which intercrines such as MCAF/MCP-1, IL-8, and connective tissue activating peptide III are found. All other cytokines and growth factors tested were negative, with the exception of IL-3, which caused histamine release in a subpopulation of subjects, and also primed basophils for release by anti-IgE. Other basophil primers for anti-IgE-dependent histamine release were IL-5, mast cell growth factor (c-kit ligand), and insulin-like growth factor II. Using specific neutralizing antibodies we have shown that MCAF/MCP-1, RANTES, and IL-3 contribute significantly to the activity found in mononuclear cell culture supernatants. Granulocyte-macrophage-CSF, IP-10, I-309, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IgE-binding factor, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta 1, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and endothelial cell growth factor were negative for direct histamine release and as primers of basophils. Our results indicate that cytokines belonging to the intercrine/chemokine family are major constituents of the activity known as "histamine releasing factor" found in MNC supernatants.

Activation of factor XI in plasma is dependent on factor XII.

The activation of factor XI initiates the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Until recently it was believed that the main activator of factor XI is factor XIIa in conjunction with the cofactor high molecular weight kininogen on a negatively charged surface. Two recent reports have presented evidence that in a purified system factor XI is activatable by thrombin together with the soluble polyanion dextran sulfate. To assess the physiological relevance of these findings we studied the activation of factor XI in normal and factor XII-deficient plasma. We used either kaolin/cephalin or dextran sulfate as a surface for the intrinsic coagulation pathway, tissue factor to generate thrombin via the extrinsic pathway, or the addition of alpha-thrombin directly. 125I-factor XI, added to factor XI-deficient plasma at physiologic concentrations (35 nmol/L), is rapidly cleaved on incubation with kaolin. The kinetics appear to be exponential with half the maximum cleavage at 5 minutes. Similar kinetics of factor XI cleavage are seen when 40 nmol/L factor XIIa (equal to 10% of factor XII activation) is added to factor XII-deficient plasma if an activating surface is provided. Tissue factor (1:500) added to plasma did not induce cleavage of factor XI during a 90-minute incubation, although fibrin formation within 30 seconds indicated that thrombin was generated via the extrinsic pathway. Adding 1 mumol/L alpha-thrombin (equivalent to 50% prothrombin activation) directly to factor XII deficient or normal plasma (with or without kaolin/cephalin/Ca2+ or dextran sulfate) led to instantaneous fibrinogen cleavage, but again no cleavage of factor XI was observable. We conclude that in plasma surroundings factor XI is not activated by thrombin, and that proposals of thrombin initiation of the intrinsic coagulation cascade are not supportable.

Purification and characterization of poliovirus polypeptide 3CD, a proteinase and a precursor for RNA polymerase.

A cDNA clone encoding the 3CD proteinase (3CDpro) of poliovirus type 2 (Sabin), the precursor to proteinase 3Cpro and RNA polymerase 3Dpol, was expressed in bacteria by using a T7 expression system. Site-specific mutagenesis of the 3C/3D cleavage site was performed to generate active proteolytic precursors impaired in their ability to process themselves to 3Cpro and 3Dpol. Of these mutations, the exchange of the Thr residue at the P4 position of the 3C/3D cleavage site for a Lys residue (3CDpro T181K) resulted in a mutant polypeptide exhibiting the smallest amount of autoprocessing. This mutant was purified to 86% homogeneity and used for subsequent proteolytic studies. Purified 3CDproM (M designates the cleavage site mutant 3CDpro T181K) was capable of cleaving the P1 capsid precursor, a peptide representing the 2BC cleavage site, and the 2BC precursor polypeptide. Purified 3CDproM demonstrated the same detergent sensitivity in processing experiments with the capsid precursor as was observed by using P1 and crude extracts of poliovirus-infected HeLa cell lysates. Purified 3CDproM did not have any detectable RNA polymerase activity, whereas 3Dpol, separated from 3CDproM by gel filtration in the last step of purification, did. We conclude that 3CDproM can process both structural and nonstructural precursors of the poliovirus polyprotein and that it is active against a synthetic peptide substrate. Moreover, cleavage of 3CD to 3Dpol is needed to activate the 3D RNA polymerase.

Generation of vasoactive peptide bradykinin from human umbilical vein endothelium-bound high molecular weight kininogen by plasma kallikrein.

High molecular weight kininogen (HK) is a multifunctional plasma glycoprotein that occupies a critical position in pathways that link inflammation and coagulation. It is an inhibitor of sulfhydryl proteases and has procoagulant properties. It is also a source of the vasoactive peptide bradykinin (BK). It has been previously shown that HK binds to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in culture. We have further characterized that interaction herein. Immunohistochemical experiments have indicated that when freshly obtained umbilical vein segments were treated with HK, washed, and probed with anti-HK antibodies, HK was localized on the endothelium. We next determined whether HUVEC-bound HK can be cleaved by plasma kallikrein to release BK. Cultured HUVEC were incubated with unlabeled HK for varying times, washed, and the kinetics of BK release by plasma kallikrein were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Results indicated that kallikrein released BK from HUVEC in proportion to the initial amount of bound HK. No release of BK occurred in the absence of kallikrein. Also, there was no BK release upon kallikrein treatment of the HUVEC not treated with exogenous HK. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of HUVEC-bound 125I-HK indicated that addition of kallikrein resulted in cleavage of HK, thus corroborating the BK release experiments. Comparison of cleavage patterns has also indicated that cell-bound HK is slightly less susceptible to digestion by kallikrein than free HK. Therefore, our data suggest that human HK can bind to vascular endothelium in situ and that plasma kallikrein can recognize endothelial-bound HK as a substrate and liberate the vasoactive peptide BK.

RANTES, a monocyte and T lymphocyte chemotactic cytokine releases histamine from human basophils.

Chemotaxis of different populations of cells and release of proinflammatory mediators in response to antigenic stimulation are important processes in allergic diseases. These lead to the late phase response, a hallmark of chronic allergic diseases. Recombinant RANTES, a member of the "intercrine/chemokine" family of cytokines, has been previously shown to be chemotactic for monocytes and T cells of memory/helper phenotype. In this manuscript, we show that it is capable of inducing histamine release from human basophils at concentrations as low as 10(-10) M and compare its activity with that of monocyte chemotactic and activating factor/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCAF/MCP-1), another intercrine/chemokine. RANTES (10(-7) M) caused histamine release from the leukocytes of 26 of 33 donors tested (mean 21.8 +/- 3.1%). In the same group of donors, MCAF/MCP-1, goat anti-human IgE (anti-IgE; 1 microgram/ml), and FMLP (10(-5) M) released 41.1 +/- 2.9%, 40.5 +/- 4.6%, and 44 +/- 3.1% histamine, respectively. The percent histamine release by RANTES in atopic vs nonatopics was 30.3 +/- 6.7 and 16.5 +/- 2.4, respectively (p less than 0.05), and histamine release by RANTES correlated significantly with histamine release by MCAF (r = 0.69; p less than 0.001) but not with histamine release by anti-IgE (r = 0.29; p greater than 0.05). Histamine release by RANTES and MCAF/MCP-1 was extremely rapid, reaching a maximum within 1 min. RANTES was also shown to activate highly purified basophils (80% pure), and its activity was inhibited by a polyclonal anti-RANTES antibody. At a suboptimal concentration (6 x 10(-9) M), RANTES did not prime basophils to enhance histamine release by secretagogues such as anti-IgE, C5a, or FMLP. On the other hand, preincubation of basophils with RANTES or MCAF/MCP-1 desensitized basophils to either factor but not to anti-IgE, C5a, or FMLP. Preincubation of basophils with pertussis toxin markedly diminished the basophil response to either RANTES or MCAF/MCP-1. These results suggest that RANTES and MCAF/MCP-1: 1) are potent activators of basophils; 2) may function via the same, or a closely related, receptor system in basophils; and 3) may represent a link between activation of monocytes, lymphocytes, and basophils in inflammatory disorders such as the late phase allergic reaction.

Connective tissue-activating peptide-III and its derivative, neutrophil-activating peptide-2, release histamine from human basophils.

Connective tissue-activating peptide-III (CTAP-III) is a 9 kd platelet alpha-granule-derived growth factor. It stimulates the synthesis of DNA, hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycans, and proteoglycan core protein in human fibroblasts. Human mononuclear cell-derived proteases have been previously demonstrated to digest the N-terminal 15 residues of CTAP-III (total, 85 residues) to produce neutrophil-activating peptide-2 (NAP-2). CTAP-III and NAP-2 belong to a class of proteins (platelet factor 4, interleukin-8/NAP-1, etc.) associated with inflammation and wound repair. In our efforts to purify human mononuclear cells and platelet-derived histamine-releasing factors, we had previously discovered that mixtures of CTAP-III and NAP-2 released histamine from human basophils. We have now developed simple protocols for the purification of CTAP-III and NAP-2, independently, from calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulated platelet supernatants by affinity chromatography and have established their identity by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and N-terminal sequence analysis. Each of these related histamine between 2 and 10 micrograms/ml, a range identical to that obtained with CTAP-III/NAP-2 mixtures that we reported earlier. Thus, our data suggest that CTAP-III and NAP-2 independently release histamine from human basophils in dose ranges similar to ranges required for fibroblast stimulation by each.