DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF EBSELEN ON COMPOUND 48 80-INDUCED AND ANTI-IGE-INDUCED HISTAMINE-RELEASE FROM RAT PERITONEAL MAST-CELLS/

2-Phenyl-1, 2-benzisoselenazol-3-(2H)one (ebselen), a nontoxic seleno- organic compound, exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through the inhi bition of many enzymes involved in inflammation. In view of the role p layed by histamine in the pathophysiology of inflammation, we looked a t the effect of ebselen on histamine secretion by rat peritoneal mast cells. It inhibited compound 48/80-induced histamine release in a conc entration-dependent manner. Half-maximal and maximal (100%) inhibitory response occurred at 5.10(-7)M and 10(-5)M, respectively. In contrast , ebselen was without any effect on histamine release induced immunolo gically. Prevention of the inhibitory effect of ebselen by GSH suggest s that it interacts with critical thiols involved in the compound 48/8 0 activation pathway. BIOCHEM PHARMACOL 56;11:1525-1528, 1998. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Inc.