IgE-dependent activation of mast cells is not associated with enhanced phospholipid methylation.

Enhanced phospholipid methylation has been suggested to be an obligatory event in activation-secretion coupling in mast cells. However, we have consistently failed to demonstrate increased [3H]methyl incorporation into either whole-lipid extracts or separated lipids to accompany IgE-dependent induction of histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells despite variation of the experimental protocol, animals and animal diet. Although the presence of 3-deazaadenosine and homocysteine thiolactone reduced IgE-dependent histamine release, treatment with these compounds elevated mast cell cyclic AMP levels. We conclude that IgE-dependent activation of mast cells is not associated with enhanced phospholipid methylation and that inhibition of histamine release by methylation inhibitors may be due to other effects of the drugs.