Glycosphingolipid clustering and mast cell degranulation.

It was shown using spin-labelled probes that challenge of sensitized rat peritoneal mast cells results in clustering of sphingolipids located in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane bilayer. This clustering is partially inhibited by antiallergic drugs of the chromone type. It is hypothesized that the sphingolipid clustering may be involved in the Ca++ gate mechanism which is associated with anaphylactically-induced mast cell degranulation.