Adenosine potentiates immunological histamine release from rat mast cells by a novel cyclic AMP-independent cell-surface action.

Adenosine enhanced histamine release and prolonged the adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) response in purified rat peritoneal mast cells following immunological challenge. The effect on the cyclic AMP response, which was blocked by 8-phenyltheophylline, probably results from an interaction with A2-purinoceptors. Enhancement of histamine release showed different characteristics. It was not inhibited by dipyridamole or hexobendine, thereby indicating an action at the cell surface. However, the relative potencies of adenosine analogues and nucleotides, together with the observation that this effect was not antagonized by 8-phenyltheophylline or theophylline, suggest that it is not mediated by a previously recognised purinoceptor. Thus, enhancement of histamine release may represent a novel cell surface action of adenosine which is independent of its effects on adenylate cyclase.