Real time, single-cell characterization of basophilic exocytosis through carbon-fiber microelectrode amperometry (CFMA) (42.1)

Abstract Histamine released by previously sensitized basophils plays a crucial role in inflammation and immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Whereas ensemble-based immunohistochemical assays characterize the average release profile of cell populations, differences among individual basophils or basophil sub-populations remain largely unexplored based on technological limitations. Previous work in our lab has used microelectrochemical techniques to measure real time quantal release from single cells isolated from separate platelet and mast cell populations. Herein we report the use of carbon-fiber microelectrodes to measure the concentration and time course of single-cell histamine secretion by primary culture basophils in response to varying physiological and electrical stimuli. Future work will utilize CFMA and the patch clamp technique to probe single-cell degranulation in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chip model of graduated complexity.