Effect of Shengmai Injection on Degranulation of RBL-2H3 Cells and Rat Peritoneal Mast Cells

Objective The anaphylactoid action of Shengmai Injection(SI) was investigated by observing the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and rat peritoneal mast cells induced by SI as well as the cytotoxicity of SI to the two kinds of cells. Methods The rat peritoneal mast cells were isolated and incubated with different concentrations of SI, and the releasing rate of histamine was detected by fluorescence analysis. RBL-2H3 cells were cultured with different concentrations of SI and the releasing rate of β-hexosaminidase was assayed by coloration method. The cytotoxicity of SI to RBL-2H3 cells and rat abdominal mast cells was tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium( MTT) assays and flow cytometry. Results SI at the concentration of 12.5-100 μL/mL could significantly induce the increase of histamine release in mast cells(P0.05), and SI at the concentration of 25-100 μL/mL significantly induced the increase of β-hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 cells(P0.05 or P 0.01). Cytotoxicity of SI in the range of above concentration was not found. Conclusion SI below the cytotoxic dose shows certain effect on inducing the degranulation of rat peritoneal mast cells and RBL-2H3 cells, which indicates that SI may have the anaphylactoid action.