Bee venom induces high histamine or high leukotriene C-4 release in skin of sensitized beekeepers

Histamine is the principal mediator released in the skin during immediate b ee venom allergy but the significance of cysteinyl leukotrienes in these re actions is not known. We measured skin histamine and cysteinyl leukotriene release induced by bee venom in six sensitized beekeepers with the skin mic rodialysis technique. The skin was dialyzed for 2 h after skin prick test w ith bee venom, and the release of histamine and leukotriene C-4 (LTC4) into the microdialysis fractions was measured. Leukotriene E-4, (LTE4) and meth ylhistamine excretion into the urine was assayed and whole blood histamine release test was performed. The release of histamine in the skin was variab le: either high delayed, high immediate and delayed, weak release or no mar ked release. The histamine releasability in the skin correlated with that i n whole blood. The three subjects with low histamine release exhibited high LTC4 release in the skin as well as high LTE4 excretion into the urine. Th us, the histamine and LTC4 releases were inversely associated with each oth er These differences may explain the variation in the clinical reaction by bee stings in sensitized beekeepers.