Differential effects of adenosine on histamine secretion induced by antigen and chemical stimuli.

Adenosine had a dual effect on the IgE-mediated histamine secretion from rat peritoneal mast cells: an inhibition at relatively low concentrations and a potentiation at higher concentrations. An adenosine R-site analog, N6-methyladenosine, had a similar dual effect while adenosine P-site analogs, 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine and 2'-deoxyadenosine, had neither inhibitory nor potentiating effects. Both compound 48/80- and alpha-chymotrypsin-induced histamine secretion were dose-dependently inhibited by adenosine. Not only R- and P-site analogs of adenosine but also a wide variety of purine and pyrimidine derivatives such as adenine, AMP, cyclic AMP, ADP, guanosine, inosine and cytosine showed inhibitory activities on the compound 48/80-induced histamine secretion. Adenosine had no influence on substance P- and neurotensin-induced histamine secretion.