Phenotypic changes of bone marrow-derived mast cells after intraperitoneal transfer into W/Wv mice that are genetically deficient in mast cells

Importance of mast cell histamine secretion in IgG-mediated systemic anaphylaxis

BACKGROUND

IgG can mediate murine and human systemic anaphylaxis (SA). The roles of mast cells (MCs) and histamine in IgG-mediated anaphylaxis are controversial for mice and have not been studied in vivo for humans. We are now investigating these issues.

METHODS

Actively or passively sensitized wild-type and immune-deficient mice were induced to develop anaphylaxis by intravenous antigen challenge. Anaphylaxis was characterized by evaluating hypothermia, hypomobility, histamine, and MC protease responses.

RESULTS

In contrast to our previous results with protein-immunized mice from a conventional colony, IgG-mediated passive SA in our specific pathogen-free colony mice depended considerably on histamine produced by connective tissue MCs (CTMCs) in response to FcγRIII crosslinking. This was found for C57BL/6 and young male and female BALB/c mice, including BALB/c mice newly arrived from 3 vendors. IgG-mediated anaphylaxis was less histamine dependent in old than young mice. Although both mucosal MC (MMC) and CTMC responses were severely depleted in c-kit-deficient mice, MMC responses depended considerably more than CTMC responses on c-kit for maintenance. In immunologically naive mice, FcγRIII crosslinking strongly activated a subset of CTMCs but had little ability to activate MMCs. In vivo LPS + poly I:C treatment decreased histamine dependence of IgG-mediated anaphylaxis, while a strong TH2 immune response increased FcγRIII crosslinking-induced MMC activation. IgG-mediated activation of human MCs in reconstituted immunodeficient mice induced histamine-dependent anaphylaxis.

CONCLUSION

IgG-dependent SA can be mediated largely by histamine released by mouse CTMCs and human MCs; histamine dependence is influenced by mouse age, sex, and immune and infectious history, as well as the anaphylaxis model studied.

Mast cells and ocular surface: An update review

Mast cells (MCs), traditionally viewed as key players in IgE-mediated allergic responses, are increasingly recognized for their versatile roles. Situated at critical barrier sites such as the ocular surface, these sentinel cells participate in a broad array of physiological and pathological processes. This review presents a comprehensive update on the immune pathophysiology of MCs, with a particular focus on the mechanisms underlying innate immunity. It highlights their roles at the ocular surface, emphasizing their participation in allergic reactions, maintenance of corneal homeostasis, neovascularization, wound healing, and immune responses in corneal grafts. The review also explores the potential of MCs as therapeutic targets, given their significant contributions to disease pathogenesis and their capacity to modulate immunity. Through a thorough examination of current literature, we aim to elucidate the immune pathophysiology and multifaceted roles of MCs in ocular surface health and disease, suggesting directions for future research and therapeutic innovation.

Cardiac Mast Cells: A Two-Head Regulator in Cardiac Homeostasis and Pathogenesis Following Injury

Cardiac mast cells (CMCs) are multifarious immune cells with complex roles both in cardiac physiological and pathological conditions, especially in cardiac fibrosis. Little is known about the physiological importance of CMCs in cardiac homeostasis and inflammatory process. Therefore, the present review will summarize the recent progress of CMCs on origin, development and replenishment in the heart, including their effects on cardiac development, function and ageing under physiological conditions as well as the roles of CMCs in inflammatory progression and resolution. The present review will shed a light on scientists to understand cardioimmunology and to develop immune treatments targeting on CMCs following cardiac injury.

Mast Cells: A New Frontier for Cancer Immunotherapy

Mast cells are unique tissue-resident immune cells of the myeloid lineage that have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic and autoimmune disorders. More recently, mast cells have been recognized as key orchestrators of anti-tumor immunity, modulators of the cancer stroma, and have also been implicated in cancer cell intrinsic properties. As such, mast cells are an underrecognized but very promising target for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the role of mast cells in shaping cancer and its microenvironment, the interaction between mast cells and cancer therapies, and strategies to target mast cells to improve cancer outcomes. Specifically, we address (1) decreasing cell numbers through c-KIT inhibition, (2) modulating mast cell activation and phenotype (through mast cell stabilizers, FcεR1 signaling pathway activators/inhibitors, antibodies targeting inhibitory receptors and ligands, toll like receptor agonists), and (3) altering secreted mast cell mediators and their downstream effects. Finally, we discuss the importance of translational research using patient samples to advance the field of mast cell targeting to optimally improve patient outcomes. As we aim to expand the successes of existing cancer immunotherapies, focused clinical and translational studies targeting mast cells in different cancer contexts are now warranted.

SNAP23 is essential for platelet and mast cell development and required in connective tissue mast cells for anaphylaxis

Degranulation, a fundamental effector response from mast cells (MCs) and platelets, is an example of regulated exocytosis. This process is mediated by SNARE proteins and their regulators. We have previously shown that several of these proteins are essential for exocytosis in MCs and platelets. Here, we assessed the role of the SNARE protein SNAP23 using conditional knockout mice, in which SNAP23 was selectively deleted from either the megakaryocyte/platelet or connective tissue MC lineages. We found that removal of SNAP23 in platelets results in severe defects in degranulation of all three platelet secretory granule types, i.e., alpha, dense, and lysosomal granules. The mutation also induces thrombocytopenia, abnormal platelet morphology and activation, and reduction in the number of alpha granules. Therefore, the degranulation defect might not be secondary to an intrinsic failure of the machinery mediating regulated exocytosis in platelets. When we removed SNAP23 expression in MCs, there was a complete developmental failure in vitro and in vivo. The developmental defects in platelets and MCs and the abnormal translocation of membrane proteins to the surface of platelets indicate that SNAP23 is also involved in constitutive exocytosis in these cells. The MC conditional deletant animals lacked connective tissue MCs, but their mucosal MCs were normal and expanded in response to an antigenic stimulus. We used this mouse to show that connective tissue MCs are required and mucosal MCs are not sufficient for an anaphylactic response.

Mast cells as a unique hematopoietic lineage and cell system: From Paul Ehrlich's visions to precision medicine concepts

The origin and functions of mast cells (MCs) have been debated since their description by Paul Ehrlich in 1879. MCs have long been considered 'reactive bystanders' and 'amplifiers' in inflammatory processes, allergic reactions, and host responses to infectious diseases. However, knowledge about the origin, phenotypes and functions of MCs has increased substantially over the past 50 years. MCs are now known to be derived from multipotent hematopoietic progenitors, which, through a process of differentiation and maturation, form a unique hematopoietic lineage residing in multiple organs. In particular, MCs are distinguishable from basophils and other hematopoietic cells by their unique phenotype, origin(s), and spectrum of functions, both in innate and adaptive immune responses and in other settings. The concept of a unique MC lineage is further supported by the development of a distinct group of neoplasms, collectively referred to as mastocytosis, in which MC precursors expand as clonal cells. The clinical consequences of the expansion and/or activation of MCs are best established in mastocytosis and in allergic inflammation. However, MCs have also been implicated as important participants in a number of additional pathologic conditions and physiological processes. In this article, we review concepts regarding MC development, factors controlling MC expansion and activation, and some of the fundamental roles MCs may play in both health and disease. We also discuss new concepts for suppressing MC expansion and/or activation using molecularly-targeted drugs.

Chondroitin sulfate E blocks enzymatic action of heparanase and heparanase-induced cellular responses

We examined whether chondroitin sulfates (CSs) exert inhibitory effects on heparanase (Hpse), the sole endoglycosidase that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) and heparin, which also stimulates chemokine production. Hpse-mediated degradation of HS was suppressed in the presence of glycosaminoglycans derived from a squid cartilage and mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells, including the E unit of CS. Pretreatment of the chondroitin sulfate E (CS-E) with chondroitinase ABC abolished the inhibitory effect. Recombinant proteins that mimic pro-form and mature-form Hpse bound to the immobilized CS-E. Cellular responses as a result of Hpse-mediated binding, namely, uptake of Hpse by mast cells and Hpse-induced release of chemokine CCL2 from colon carcinoma cells, were also blocked by the CS-E. CS-E may regulate endogenous Hpse-mediated cellular functions by inhibiting enzymatic activity and binding to the cell surface.

Mast Cell Tumors of the Gastrointestinal Tract in 39 Dogs

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) of gastrointestinal origin that had been surgically removed from 39 dogs were examined to evaluate their pathologic features. Miniature breeds, especially Maltese, were most frequently affected. The average age of affected dogs was 9.7 ± 2.6 years. No sex difference was apparent. The most frequently affected sites were in the upper digestive tract, and the prognosis was very poor. Grossly, the gastrointestinal wall was prominently thickened, and the lumen of the affected gut was usually narrowed. Microscopically, there was diffuse transmural invasion of round to pleomorphic tumor cells. Tumor cells had moderate to abundant cytoplasm, round to ovoid nuclei with scattered chromatin, and mitotic figures. Fibrous stroma was observed in about half of the tumors. There was variable infiltration of eosinophils. In all tumors, cytoplasmic granules showed weak metachromasia, but the number of granules was very small. Immunohistochemical staining for c-kit and mast cell tryptase was positive in 77% and 62% of tumors, respectively. All tumors were positive for at least two of these markers. Immunohistochemical staining for p53 was positive in 13% of the tumors. Reactivity for staining markers and p53 was unrelated to cell pleomorphism, vessel invasion, or survival time. Gastrointestinal MCTs have histologic and immunohistochemical features completely different from those of other primary or metastatic gastrointestinal tumors. The combination of immunostaining for mast cell tryptase and c-kit and histochemical staining for metachromasia appears to be a powerful tool for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal MCTs.

Approaches for analyzing the roles of mast cells and their proteases in vivo

The roles of mast cells in health and disease remain incompletely understood. While the evidence that mast cells are critical effector cells in IgE-dependent anaphylaxis and other acute IgE-mediated allergic reactions seems unassailable, studies employing various mice deficient in mast cells or mast cell-associated proteases have yielded divergent conclusions about the roles of mast cells or their proteases in certain other immunological responses. Such "controversial" results call into question the relative utility of various older versus newer approaches to ascertain the roles of mast cells and mast cell proteases in vivo. This review discusses how both older and more recent mouse models have been used to investigate the functions of mast cells and their proteases in health and disease. We particularly focus on settings in which divergent conclusions about the importance of mast cells and their proteases have been supported by studies that employed different models of mast cell or mast cell protease deficiency. We think that two major conclusions can be drawn from such findings: (1) no matter which models of mast cell or mast cell protease deficiency one employs, the conclusions drawn from the experiments always should take into account the potential limitations of the models (particularly abnormalities affecting cell types other than mast cells) and (2) even when analyzing a biological response using a single model of mast cell or mast cell protease deficiency, details of experimental design are critical in efforts to define those conditions under which important contributions of mast cells or their proteases can be identified.

The multifaceted mast cell in inflammatory bowel disease

Mast cells (MCs) are tissue-resident immune cells that carry out protective roles against pathogens. In disease states, such as inflammatory bowel disease, these granulocytes release a diverse array of mediators that contribute to inflammatory processes. They also participate in wound repair and tissue remodeling. In this review, the composition of MCs and how their phenotypes can be altered during inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is detailed. Animal and human clinical studies that have implicated the participation of MCs in inflammatory bowel disease are reviewed, including the contribution of the cell's mediators to clinical symptoms, stress-triggered inflammation, and fistula and strictures. Studies that have focused on negating the proinflammatory roles of MCs and their mediators in animal models suggest new targets for therapies for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Mast cell function: a new vision of an old cell

Since first described by Paul Ehrlich in 1878, mast cells have been mostly viewed as effectors of allergy. It has been only in the past two decades that mast cells have gained recognition for their involvement in other physiological and pathological processes. Mast cells have a widespread distribution and are found predominantly at the interface between the host and the external environment. Mast cell maturation, phenotype and function are a direct consequence of the local microenvironment and have a marked influence on their ability to specifically recognize and respond to various stimuli through the release of an array of biologically active mediators. These features enable mast cells to act as both first responders in harmful situations as well as to respond to changes in their environment by communicating with a variety of other cells implicated in physiological and immunological responses. Therefore, the critical role of mast cells in both innate and adaptive immunity, including immune tolerance, has gained increased prominence. Conversely, mast cell dysfunction has pointed to these cells as the main offenders in several chronic allergic/inflammatory disorders, cancer and autoimmune diseases. This review summarizes the current knowledge of mast cell function in both normal and pathological conditions with regards to their regulation, phenotype and role.

Heparanase-mediated cleavage of macromolecular heparin accelerates release of granular components of mast cells from extracellular matrices

Heparanase cleaves macromolecular heparin in the secretory granules of connective tissue-type mast cells. We investigated roles of the cleavage under a microenvironment mimicking where the mast cells physiologically reside. A connective tissue-type mast cell line MST and mouse peritoneal cell-derived mast cells stored macromolecular heparin in the secretory granules. The cells expressing heparanase stored fragmented heparin (~10 kDa) due to heparanase-dependent cleavage of the heparin. We produced an artificial collagen-based extracellular matrix and placed the live cells or glycosaminoglycans purified from the cells in the matrix to measure the release of sulfated macromolecules into the medium. The sulfate-radiolabelled molecules from the degranulating heparanase-expressing cells and the purified glycosaminoglycans showed significantly greater release into the medium than those derived from mock cells, which was not the case in suspension culture. The mast cell granular enzyme chymase, but not β-hexosaminidase, showed significantly greater release from the degranulating heparanase-expressing cells than from mock cells. Purified chymase mixed with fragmented heparin derived from heparanase-expressing cells showed greater release from collagen gels than the enzyme alone or mixed with macromolecular heparin derived from mock cells. We propose that the cleavage of macromolecular heparin by heparanase accelerates the release of heparin and chymase from extracellular matrices.

Development of mast cells and importance of their tryptase and chymase serine proteases in inflammation and wound healing

Mast cells (MCs) are active participants in blood coagulation and innate and acquired immunity. This review focuses on the development of mouse and human MCs, as well as the involvement of their granule serine proteases in inflammation and the connective tissue remodeling that occurs during the different phases of the healing process of wounded skin and other organs. The accumulated data suggest that MCs, their tryptases, and their chymases play important roles in tissue repair. While MCs initially promote healing, they can be detrimental if they are chronically stimulated or if too many MCs become activated at the same time. The possibility that MCs and their granule serine proteases contribute to the formation of keloid and hypertrophic scars makes them potential targets for therapeutic intervention in the repair of damaged skin.

New models for analyzing mast cell functions in vivo

In addition to their well-accepted role as critical effector cells in anaphylaxis and other acute IgE-mediated allergic reactions, mast cells (MCs) have been implicated in a wide variety of processes that contribute to disease or help to maintain health. Although some of these roles were first suggested by analyses of MC products or functions in vitro, it is critical to determine whether, and under which circumstances, such potential roles actually can be performed by MCs in vivo. This review discusses recent advances in the development and analysis of mouse models to investigate the roles of MCs and MC-associated products during biological responses in vivo, and comments on some of the similarities and differences in the results obtained with these newer versus older models of MC deficiency.

The role of SHIP in the development and activation of mouse mucosal and connective tissue mast cells

Although SHIP is a well-established suppressor of IgE plus Ag-induced degranulation and cytokine production in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), little is known about its role in connective tissue (CTMCs) or mucosal (MMCs) mast cells. In this study, we compared SHIP's role in the development as well as the IgE plus Ag and TLR-induced activation of CTMCs, MMCs, and BMMCs and found that SHIP delays the maturation of all three mast cell subsets and, surprisingly, that it is a positive regulator of IgE-induced BMMC survival. We also found that SHIP represses IgE plus Ag-induced degranulation of all three mast cell subsets and that TLR agonists do not trigger their degranulation, whether SHIP is present or not, nor do they enhance IgE plus Ag-induced degranulation. In terms of cytokine production, we found that in MMCs and BMMCs, which are poor producers of TLR-induced cytokines, SHIP is a potent negative regulator of IgE plus Ag-induced IL-6 and TNF-α production. Surprisingly, however, in splenic or peritoneal derived CTMCs, which are poor producers of IgE plus Ag-induced cytokines, SHIP is a potent positive regulator of TLR-induced cytokine production. Lastly, cell signaling and cytokine production studies with and without LY294002, wortmannin, and PI3Kα inhibitor-2, as well as with PI3K p85α(-/-) BMMCs and CTMCs, are consistent with SHIP positively regulating TLR-induced cytokine production via an adaptor-mediated pathway while negatively regulating IgE plus Ag-induced cytokine production by repressing the PI3K pathway.

Antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive functions of mast cells

Through the release of biologically active products, mast cells function as important effector and immunoregulatory cells in diverse immunological reactions and other biological responses; for example, mast cells promote inflammation and other tissue changes in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-associated allergic disorders, as well as in certain innate and adaptive immune responses that are thought to be independent of IgE. Despite the mast cell's well-deserved reputation as a promoter of inflammation, others and we have used bone marrow-derived cultured mast cell (BMCMC) engrafted mast cell-deficient c-kit-mutant mice (so-called "mast cell knock-in" mice) to show that mast cells can also have important antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive functions in vivo. An early study showed that mast cells can contribute to susceptibility to ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced immunosuppression in one model of contact hypersensitivity (CHS), through effects mediated at least in part by histamine. Subsequently, it was reported that mast cells can mediate negative immunomodulatory effects following Anopheles mosquito bites, and in peripheral tolerance to skin allografts; however, the mechanism(s) by which mast cells mediate immunosuppressive functions in these two studies remains to be elucidated. Finally, we showed that mast cells and mast cell-derived IL-10 can limit the magnitude of and promote the resolution of certain CHS responses, and suppress the inflammation and skin injury associated with innate cutaneous responses to chronic low-dose UVB irradiation. This chapter outlines the generation of BMCMCs, a powerful model system commonly used to: (1) identify potential mast cell mediators in vitro; (2) study the mechanisms of mast cell activation and mediator release in response to specific stimuli in vitro; and (3) engraft mast cell-deficient mice to study the effector and immunoregulatory roles of mast cells or specific mast cell mediators in diverse immunological responses in vivo.

A Notch ligand, Delta-like 1 functions as an adhesion molecule for mast cells

Mast cells (MCs) accumulate in chronic inflammatory sites; however, it is not clear which adhesion molecules are involved in this process. Recently, the expression of Notch ligands was reported to be upregulated in inflammatory sites. Although Notch receptors are known as signaling molecules that can activate integrins, their contributions to the adhesion of MCs have not been studied. In this study, we demonstrated that mouse MCs efficiently adhered to stromal cells forced to express a Notch ligand, Delta-like 1 (Dll1). Surprisingly, the adhesion was a consequence of direct cell-cell interaction between MCs and Dll1-expressing stromal cells rather than activation of downstream effectors of Notch receptor(s)-Dll1. The adhesion of MCs to Dll1-expressing stromal cells remained even when the cell metabolism was arrested. The recognition was blocked only by inhibition of Notch receptor(s)-Dll1 interaction by addition of soluble DLL1, or mAbs against Dll1 or Notch2. Taken together, these results indicate that Notch receptor(s) and Dll1 directly promote the adhesion of MCs to stromal cells by acting as adhesion molecules. This appreciation that Notch receptor-ligand interactions have an adhesion function will provide an important clue to molecular basis of accumulation of MCs to inflammatory sites.

Synovial fibroblasts promote the expression and granule accumulation of tryptase via interleukin-33 and its receptor ST-2 (IL1RL1)

A characteristic feature of tissue resident human mast cells (MCs) is their hTryptase-beta-rich cytoplasmic granules. Mouse MC protease-6 (mMCP-6) is the ortholog of hTryptase-beta, and we have shown that this tetramer-forming tryptase has beneficial roles in innate immunity but adverse roles in inflammatory disorders like experimental arthritis. Because the key tissue factors that control tryptase expression in MCs have not been identified, we investigated the mechanisms by which fibroblasts mediate the expression and granule accumulation of mMCP-6. Immature mouse bone marrow-derived MCs (mBMMCs) co-cultured with fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) or mouse 3T3 fibroblasts markedly increased their levels of mMCP-6. This effect was caused by an undefined soluble factor whose levels could be increased by exposing FLS to tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin (IL)-1beta. Gene expression profiling of mBMMCs and FLS for receptor.ligand pairs of potential relevance raised the possibility that IL-33 was a sought after fibroblast-derived factor that promotes tryptase expression and granule maturation via its receptor IL1RL1/ST2. MCs lacking IL1RL1 exhibited defective fibroblast-driven tryptase accumulation, whereas recombinant IL-33 induced mMCP-6 mRNA and protein accumulation in wild-type mBMMCs. In agreement with these data, synovial MCs from IL1RL1-null mice exhibited a marked reduction in mMCP-6 expression. IL-33 is the first factor shown to modulate tryptase expression in MCs at the mRNA and protein levels. We therefore have identified a novel pathway by which mesenchymal cells exposed to inflammatory cytokines modulate the phenotype of local MCs to shape their immune responses.

Mast cell functions in the innate skin immune system

Mast cells are not only potent effector cells in allergy, but are also important players in protective immune responses against pathogens. Most of our knowledge about mast cells in innate immunity is derived from models of sepsis, whereas their role in innate immune responses of the skin has largely been neglected in the past. Their particular pattern of distribution in the skin and their ability to sense and react to pathogens and other danger signals indicate that mast cells can be important sentinels and effector cells in skin immune responses. The recent findings reviewed here have confirmed this hypothesis and have established a prominent role for skin mast cells in innate immunity.

The Diacylglycerol-dependent translocation of ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein 4 inside a human mast cell line results in substantial phenotypic changes, including expression of interleukin 13 receptor alpha2

Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein 4 (RasGRP4) is a mast cell (MC)-restricted guanine nucleotide exchange factor and diacylglycerol (DAG)/phorbol ester receptor. An RasGRP4-defective variant of the human MC line HMC-1 was used to create stable clones expressing green fluorescent protein-labeled RasGRP4 for monitoring the movement of this protein inside MCs after exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and for evaluating the protein's ability to control gene expression. RasGRP4 resided primarily in the cytosol. After exposure to PMA, RasGRP4 quickly translocated to the inner leaflet of the cell's plasma membrane. 15-30 min later, this signaling protein translocated from the plasma membrane to other intracellular sites. The translocation of RasGRP4 from the cytosol to its varied membrane compartments was found to be highly dependent on Phe(548) in the protein's C1 DAG/PMA-binding domain. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 were activated during this translocation process, and c-kit/CD117 was lost from the cell's surface. Transcript-profiling approaches revealed that RasGRP4 profoundly regulated the expression of hundreds of genes in HMC-1 cells. For example, the expression of the transcript that encodes the interleukin (IL) 13 receptor IL-13Ralpha2 increased 61- to 860-fold in RasGRP4-expressing HMC-1 cells. A marked increase in IL-13Ralpha2 protein levels also was found. The accumulated data suggest RasGRP4 translocates to varied intracellular compartments via its DAG/PMA-binding domain to regulate signaling pathways that control gene and protein expression in MCs, including the cell's ability to respond to IL-13.

Regulation of the Il4 gene is independently controlled by proximal and distal 3' enhancers in mast cells and basophils

Mast cells and basophils are known to be a critical interleukin 4 (IL-4) source for establishing Th2 protective responses to parasitic infections. Chromatin structure and histone modification patterns in the Il13/Il4 locus of mast cells were similar to those of IL-4-producing type 2 helper T cells. However, using a transgenic approach, we found that Il4 gene expression was distinctly regulated by individual cis regulatory elements in cell types of different lineages. The distal 3' element contained conserved noncoding sequence 2 (CNS-2), which was a common enhancer for memory phenotype T cells, NKT cells, mast cells, and basophils. Targeted deletion of CNS-2 compromised production of IL-4 and several Th2 cytokines in connective-tissue-type and immature-type mast cells but not in basophils. Interestingly, the proximal 3' element containing DNase I-hypersensitive site 4 (HS4), which controls Il4 gene silencing in T-lineage cells, exhibited selective enhancer activity in basophils. These results indicate that CNS-2 is an essential enhancer for Il4 gene transcription in mast cell but not in basophils. The transcription of the Il4 gene in mast cells and basophils is independently regulated by CNS-2 and HS4 elements that may be critical for lineage-specific Il4 gene regulation in these cell types.

Different mast cell mediators produced by different mast cell phenotypes

The activation of mast cells results in the release of a large variety of inflammatory mediators, many of which are preformed and stored within the secretory granules. Exocytosis of the secretory granule contents releases a macromolecular complex composed of proteoglycan and the neutral proteases. The proteases include both endo- and exopeptidases, suggesting the possibility of a concerted action on unknown substrates. Different proteases are expressed by different mast cells originally defined by histochemical and ultrastructural criteria. From adoptive transfer experiments it appears that the mast cell phenotype is profoundly influenced by the microenvironment. Understanding the development and regulation of the mast cell phenotype is being approached by the development of: (1) An in vitro system of differentiation using in vitro-differentiated mast cells which upon co-culture with fibroblasts demonstrate a phenotypic shift; (2) Kirsten virus-transformed mast cells exhibiting a spectrum of phenotypes. These reagents have allowed the isolation and characterization of the cDNAs of the various preformed protein mediators including the secretory granule proteoglycan peptide core, serine proteases and carboxypeptidase. These cDNAs have provided the first probes for the molecular characterization of the mast cell-associated proteoglycan peptide core, a carboxypeptidase A and a 28,000 Mr serine protease.

Development of mast cells

Mast cells are progeny of the multipotential hematopoietic stem cell (MHSC). Mast cell-committed progenitors (MCPs) leave hematopoietic tissues, migrate in peripheral blood, invade to connective or mucosal tissue, proliferate and differentiate to morphologically identifiable mast cells. Phenotype of mast cells (connective tissue-type or mucosal type) is determined by the site of lodgment of MCPs. Most progeny of the multipotential hematopoietic stem cell lose proliferation potential after maturation, but connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMCs) possess appreciable proliferation potential after maturation. Even after functioning by degranulation, CTMCs proliferate and restore the original morphology. The most important cytokine for development and survival of mast cells is KIT ligand, and the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is expressed through the whole developmental process of mast cells from MHSC to mature mast cells. The loss-of-function mutation of KIT gene results in depletion of mast cells, whereas its gain-of-function mutation causes mast cell tumors. Since mast cells are involved in various disease processes, intervention in development of mast cells might be beneficial to the treatment.

Mast cells in the promotion and limitation of chronic inflammation

Observations of increased numbers of mast cells at sites of chronic inflammation have been reported for over a hundred years. Light and electron microscopic evidence of mast cell activation at such sites, taken together with the known functions of the diverse mediators, cytokines, and growth factors that can be secreted by appropriately activated mast cells, have suggested a wide range of possible functions for mast cells in promoting (or suppressing) many features of chronic inflammation. Similarly, these and other lines of evidence have implicated mast cells in a variety of adaptive or pathological responses that are associated with persistent inflammation at the affected sites. Definitively characterizing the importance of mast cells in chronic inflammation in humans is difficult. However, mice that genetically lack mast cells, especially those which can undergo engraftment with wildtype or genetically altered mast cells, provide a means to investigate the importance of mast cells and specific mast cell functions or products in diverse models of chronic inflammation. Such work has confirmed that mast cells can significantly influence multiple features of chronic inflammatory responses, through diverse effects that can either promote or, perhaps more surprisingly, suppress aspects of these responses.

Lymphocyte-independent connective tissue mast cells populate murine synovium

OBJECTIVE

Mast cells (MCs) are a heterogeneous population of tissue-resident bone marrow-derived cells; distinct MC subpopulations are situated at specific microanatomic locations. The phenotype of the murine synovial MC remains undefined. Since MCs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis, we sought to define the phenotype of the murine synovial MC population in normal and arthritic joints. We also examined the contribution of lymphocytes to synovial MC physiology.

METHODS

The MC phenotype in healthy and K/BxN serum transfer-induced arthritic synovial tissue was defined using immunohistochemical staining of prototypic MC-specific proteases (murine MC proteases [mMCP] 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7) (chymases and tryptases). MC numbers and density were determined by histomorphometry in healthy and arthritic synovia. The lymphocyte contribution to MC populations was assessed using RAG-null mice.

RESULTS

We found that synovial MCs display a connective tissue mast cell (CTMC) phenotype in both normal and arthritic synovial tissue, which expresses mMCP-4, -5, -6, and -7, but not mMCP-1 or mMCP-2. In addition, MC hyperplasia was seen in the arthritic synovium. In RAG-null mice, the phenotype and degree of MC hyperplasia were identical to those observed in normal mice with and without arthritis. Furthermore, in contrast to skin CTMCs, all synovial MCs expressed mMCP-6, demonstrating discrete differences between synovial CTMCs and other anatomic CTMC populations.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that the murine synovial MC population is composed of lymphocyte-independent CTMCs and identify arthritic synovium as a model system by which to gain insight into the poorly understood physiology of CTMCs in chronic inflammation.

Protective roles of mast cells and mast cell-derived TNF in murine malaria

TNF plays important roles in the protection and onset of malaria. Although mast cells are known as a source of TNF, little is known about the relationship between mast cells and pathogenesis of malaria. In this study, mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/W(v) (W/W(v)) and the control littermate WBB6F1+/+ (+/+) mice were infected with 1 x 10(5) of Plasmodium berghei ANKA. +/+ mice had lower parasitemia with higher TNF levels, as compared with W/W(v) mice. Diminished resistance in W/W(v) mice was considered to be due to mast cells and TNF. This fact was confirmed by experiments in W/W(v) mice reconstituted with bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) of +/+ mice or of TNF-/- mice. W/W(v) mice with BMMCs of +/+ mice exhibit lower parasitemia and mortality accompanying significantly higher TNF levels than those of W/W(v) mice. Parasitemia in W/W(v) mice with BMMCs of TNF-/- mice was higher than that in +/+ mice. Activation of mast cells by anti-IgE or compound 48/80 resulted in release of TNF and decrease of parasitemia. In addition, splenic hypertrophy and increased number of mast cells in the spleen were observed after infection in +/+ mice and W/W(v) mice reconstituted with BMMCs of +/+ mice as compared with W/W(v) mice. These findings propose a novel mechanism that mast cells and mast cell-derived TNF play protective roles in malaria.

Mast cell-deficient W-sash c-kit mutant Kit W-sh/W-sh mice as a model for investigating mast cell biology in vivo

Mice carrying certain mutations in the white spotting (W) locus (ie, c-kit) exhibit reduced c-kit tyrosine kinase-dependent signaling that results in mast cell deficiency and other phenotypic abnormalities. The c-kit mutations in Kit(W/W-v) mice impair melanogenesis and result in anemia, sterility, and markedly reduced levels of tissue mast cells. In contrast, Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice, bearing the W-sash (W(sh)) inversion mutation, have mast cell deficiency but lack anemia and sterility. We report that adult Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice had a profound deficiency in mast cells in all tissues examined but normal levels of major classes of other differentiated hematopoietic and lymphoid cells. Unlike Kit(W/W-v) mice, Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice had normal numbers of TCR gammadelta intraepithelial lymphocytes in the intestines and did not exhibit a high incidence of idiopathic dermatitis, ulcers, or squamous papillomas of the stomach, but like Kit(W/W-v) mice, they lacked interstitial cells of Cajal in the gut and exhibited bile reflux into the stomach. Systemic or local reconstitution of mast cell populations was achieved in nonirradiated adult Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice by intravenous, intraperitoneal, or intradermal injection of wild-type bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells but not by transplantation of wild-type bone marrow cells. Thus, Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice represent a useful model for mast cell research, especially for analyzing mast cell function in vivo.

Rapidly changing perspectives about mast cells at mucosal surfaces

Mast cells (MCs) are major effector cells of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic inflammation. However, it has become increasingly clear that they also play important roles in diverse physiological and pathological processes. Recent advances have focused on the importance of MCs in both innate and adaptive immune responses and have fostered studies of MCs beyond the myopic focus on allergic reactions. MCs possess a variety of surface receptors and may be activated by inflammatory mediators, IgE, IgG, light chains, complement fragments, proteases, hormones, neuropeptides, and microbial products. Following activation, they produce a plethora of pro-inflammatory mediators and participate in inflammatory reactions in many organs. This review focuses on the role of MCs in inflammatory reactions in mucosal surfaces with particular emphasis on their role in respiratory and gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions.

Mast cells as "tunable" effector and immunoregulatory cells: recent advances

This review focuses on recent progress in our understanding of how mast cells can contribute to the initiation, development, expression, and regulation of acquired immune responses, both those associated with IgE and those that are apparently expressed independently of this class of Ig. We emphasize findings derived from in vivo studies in mice, particularly those employing genetic approaches to influence mast cell numbers and/or to alter or delete components of pathways that can regulate mast cell development, signaling, or function. We advance the hypothesis that mast cells not only can function as proinflammatory effector cells and drivers of tissue remodeling in established acquired immune responses, but also may contribute to the initiation and regulation of such responses. That is, we propose that mast cells can also function as immunoregulatory cells. Finally, we show that the notion that mast cells have primarily two functional configurations, off (or resting) or on (or activated for extensive mediator release), markedly oversimplifies reality. Instead, we propose that mast cells are "tunable," by both genetic and environmental factors, such that, depending on the circumstances, the cell can be positioned phenotypically to express a wide spectrum of variation in the types, kinetics, and/or magnitude of its secretory functions.

Mast Cells, FcεRI, and IL-13 Are Required for Development of Airway Hyperresponsiveness after Aerosolized Allergen Exposure in the Absence of Adjuvant

In certain models of allergic airway disease, mast cells facilitate the development of inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). To define the role of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) in the development of AHR, mice with a disruption of the alpha subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI(-/-)) were exposed on 10 consecutive days to nebulized OVA. Forty-eight hours after the last nebulization, airway responsiveness was monitored by the contractile response of tracheal smooth muscle to electrical field stimulation (EFS). After the 10-day OVA challenge protocol, wild-type mice demonstrated increased responsiveness to EFS, whereas similarly challenged FcepsilonRI(-/-) mice showed a low response to EFS, similar to nonexposed animals. Further, allergen-challenged FcepsilonRI(-/-) mice showed less airway inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and lower levels of IL-13 in lung homogenates compared with the controls. IL-13-deficient mice failed to develop an increased response to EFS or goblet cell hyperplasia after the 10-day OVA challenge. We transferred bone marrow-derived mast cells from wild-type mice to FcepsilonRI(-/-) mice 1 day before initiating the challenge protocol. After the 10-day OVA challenge, recipient FcepsilonRI(-/-) mice demonstrated EFS-induced responses similar to those of challenged wild-type mice. Transferred mast cells could be detected in tracheal preparations. These results show that FcepsilonRI is important for the development of AHR after an aerosolized allergen sensitization protocol and that this effect is mediated through FcepsilonRI on mast cells and production of IL-13 in the lung.

Mast Cells Exert Effects Outside the Central Nervous System to Influence Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis Disease Course

Previous studies using mast cell-deficient mice (W/W(v)) revealed that mast cells influence disease onset and severity of experimental allergic/autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the murine model for multiple sclerosis. The mast cell populations of these mice can be restored by transferring bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Studies using the W/W(v) reconstitution model have lead to major advances in our understanding of mast cell roles in vivo. However, despite its common use, details regarding the sites and kinetics of mast cell repopulation have remained largely uncharacterized. In this study, we examined the kinetics and tissue distribution of green fluorescent protein(+) BMMCs in reconstituted W/W(v) mice to identify sites of mast cell influence in EAE. Reconstitution of naive animals with BMMCs does not restore mast cell populations to all organs, notably the brain, spinal cord, lymph nodes, and heart. Despite the absence of mast cells in the CNS, reconstituted mice exhibit an EAE disease course equivalent to that induced in wild-type mice. Mast cells are found adjacent to T cell-rich areas of the spleen and can migrate to the draining lymph node after disease induction. These data reveal that mast cells can act outside the CNS to influence EAE, perhaps by affecting the function of autoreactive lymphocytes.

Isoforms of mi transcription factor preferentially expressed in cultured mast cells of mice

MITF is a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factor, which is important for normal phenotypic expression of mast cells. Three isoforms of MITF have been known in mice, MITF-A, -H, and -M. Since cultured mast cells (CMCs) are useful for studying the function of MITF, we examined isoforms of MITF expressed in CMCs using 5'-RACE, and found a new isoform of MITF, MITF-E. We assessed the relative mRNA amount of various MITF isoforms with reverse transcription-PCR. When the mRNA amount of MITF-E was used as a standard, that of MITF-M was approximately 10%, that of MITF-H was approximately 1%, and that of MITF-A was approximately 0.1%. Although MITF-E was the preferential isoform in CMCs, peritoneal mast cells expressed only MITF-M. The expression profile of MITF isoforms appeared to be influenced by the developing process of mast cells.

Tissue-dependent alteration of protease expression phenotype in murine peritoneal mast cells that were genetically labeled with green fluorescent protein

The changing process of protease expression phenotype was studied after transplantation of peritoneal mast cells (PMCs). To pursue the fate of the transplanted PMCs, we obtained PMCs from WBB6F(1)-c-kit(+)/c-kit(+) mice with a transgene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). A large (n = 10(4)) or small (n = 500) number of PMCs was injected into the stomach wall of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F(1)-c-kit(W)/c-kit(Wv) mice without the GFP transgene. The original PMCs expressed messenger (m) RNAs of both mast cell carboxypeptidase A (MC-CPA) and mouse mast cell protease (mMCP)-2. The MC-CPA(+)/mMCP-2(+) phenotype did not change in both the muscularis propria and mucosa when 10(4) PMCs were injected. In contrast, when 500 PMCs were injected, the mast cells that developed in the muscularis propria showed MC-CPA(+)/mMCP-2(-) phenotype and those that appeared in the mucosa showed MC-CPA(-)/mMCP-2(+) phenotype. On day 1 after the injection of 500 PMCs, only approximately 20 GFP(+) cells were detected in the muscularis propria and no GFP(+) cells in the mucosa. The proportion of Alcian blue(+) cells decreased until day 7 and increased thereafter. The GFP(+) but Alcian blue(-) cells were considered as degranulated PMCS: The remarkable decrease or degranulation seemed to be necessary for the alteration of protease expression phenotype.

Selective down-regulation of high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) alpha-chain messenger RNA among transcriptome in cord blood-derived versus adult peripheral blood-derived cultured human mast cells

Substantial numbers of human mast cells (MCs) were generated from umbilical cord blood (CB) and from adult peripheral blood (PB). A single CB progenitor produced 15 436 MCs, whereas a single PB progenitor produced 807 MCs on average. However, PB-derived MCs were far more active than CB-derived MCs in terms of high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI)-mediated reactions. One million sensitized PB-derived MCs released 3.6 microg histamine, 215 pg IL-5, and 14 ng granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), whereas 10(6) sensitized CB-derived MCs released only 0.8 microg histamine, 31 pg IL-5, and 0.58 ng GM-CSF on anti-IgE challenge. However, ionophore A23 187 released similar levels of histamine from the 2 MC types. PB-derived MCs highly expressed surface FcepsilonRI alpha chain, and CB-derived MCs almost lacked it in the absence of IgE. PB-derived MCs expressed approximately 5 times higher levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) for FcepsilonRI alpha chain than CB-derived MCs, but mRNAs for beta and gamma chains of the receptors were equally expressed. Among the approximately 5600 kinds of full-length human genes examined by using the high-density oligonucleotide probe-array system, FcepsilonRIalpha was ranked the fifth most increased transcript in PB-derived MCs. The 4 other increased transcripts were unrelated to MC function. These results suggest that IgE-mediated reactions may be restricted during early infancy through the selective inhibition of FcepsilonRIalpha transcription, which is probably committed at progenitor stages and is, at least in part, cytokine-insensitive.

Regulation of chymase production in human mast cell progenitors

BACKGROUND

Although mature tryptase-positive mast cells (MCs) and tryptase and chymase double-positive MCs are recognized using in situ staining and are preferentially distributed in different tissues, recent findings suggest that tryptase-positive MCs can give rise to tryptase and chymase double-positive MCs.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the regulation of chymase production in developing MCs.

METHODS

Human cord blood or peripheral blood cells were cultured in the presence of stem cell factor and IL-6 with or without IL-4 in methylcellulose or liquid medium. Intracellular chymase and tryptase were determined with immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, and ELISA. Chymase messenger RNA expression was examined with 3 different methods, such as Northern blotting.

RESULTS

Flow cytometric analysis always showed a unimodal histogram of chymase-positive, as well as tryptase-positive, cells in the presence of various cytokines, even when chymase was not detected in some MCs with immunocytochemistry. The chymase protein expression increased by culture duration and was enhanced by cytokines, such as a high concentration of stem cell factor or IL-4. Chymase messenger RNA was expressed higher in immature MCs than mature chymase protein-rich MCs. We generated macroscopic MC colonies in methylcellulose by culturing CD34(+) cells for 10 weeks and measured cellular chymase, tryptase, and histamine. The chymase/histamine ratio widely varied (0.07-1.01) depending on MC colony, even under the same culture conditions, including IL-4, whereas the tryptase/histamine ratio was relatively constant (1.02-1.89).

CONCLUSION

All human MCs in culture are capable of producing chymase, and the production is clonally regulated at their progenitors by cytokine-independent mechanisms, as well as being totally controlled by cytokine-dependent mechanisms accompanied by maturation.

Mast cells are essential for early onset and severe disease in a murine model of multiple sclerosis

In addition to their well characterized role in allergic inflammation, recent data confirm that mast cells play a more extensive role in a variety of immune responses. However, their contribution to autoimmune and neurologic disease processes has not been investigated. Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and its human disease counterpart, multiple sclerosis, are considered to be CD4(+) T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases affecting the central nervous system. Several lines of indirect evidence suggest that mast cells could also play a role in the pathogenesis of both the human and murine disease. Using a myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced model of acute EAE, we show that mast cell-deficient W/W(v) mice exhibit significantly reduced disease incidence, delayed disease onset, and decreased mean clinical scores when compared with their wild-type congenic littermates. No differences were observed in MOG-specific T and B cell responses between the two groups, indicating that a global T or B cell defect is not present in W/W(v) animals. Reconstitution of the mast cell population in W/W(v) mice restores induction of early and severe disease to wild-type levels, suggesting that mast cells are critical for the full manifestation of disease. These data provide a new mechanism for immune destruction in EAE and indicate that mast cells play a broader role in neurologic inflammation.

Mast cells in the sheep, hedgehog and rat forebrain

The study was designed to reveal the distribution of various mast cell types in the forebrain of the adult sheep, hedgehog and rat. Based on their histochemical and immunocytochemical characteristics, mast cells were categorised as (1) connective tissue-type mast cells, staining metachromatically purple with the toluidine blue method, or pale red with the Alcian blue/safranin method, (2) mucosal-type or immature mast cells staining blue with the Alcian blue/safranin method and (3) serotonin immunopositive mast cells. All 3 types of brain mast cells in all species studied were located in both white and grey matter, often associated with intraparenchymal blood vessels. Their distribution pattern exhibited interspecies differences, while their number varied considerably not only between species but also between individuals of each species. A distributional left-right asymmetry, with more cells present on the left side, was observed in all species studied but it was most prominent in the sheep brain. In the sheep, mast cells were abundantly distributed in forebrain areas, while in the hedgehog and the rat forebrain, mast cells were less widely distributed and were relatively or substantially fewer in number respectively. A limited number of brain mast cells, in all 3 species, but primarily in the rat, were found to react both immunocytochemically to 5-HT antibody and histochemically with Alcian blue/safranin staining.

Characterization of a functional relationship between hepatocyte growth factor and mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells

During the early stage (at 4 weeks) of interleukin-3 (IL-3)-induced development, mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) express alpha 4, alpha 5 and alpha 6 integrins, whereas with further maturation beyond 10 weeks, only alpha 5 integrin remains stably expressed. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) modulates the growth and movement of diverse cell types upon binding to its receptor, encoded by the proto-oncogene c-met. We report here the expression of c-met by BMMC throughout the course of their development. In addition, HGF stimulated migration of early week-4 BMMC, but not of the later stage week-10 BMMC, on fibronectin and laminin substrates. The developmental stage-dependent effect of HGF on BMMC was due to specific stimulation of the migratory function of alpha 4 and alpha 6, but not alpha 5 integrins. In addition, HGF had no effect on BMMC growth, either alone or in combination with IL-3. While HGF is stimulatory of the migratory function of BMMC, our results show that BMMC in turn can modulate HGF function. Thus, upon activation via the IgE receptors, BMMC released proteases that abolished HGF activities. Analyses of the degradation products by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot using antisera prepared against recombinant HGF and the kringle 3 domain of HGF revealed specific degradation of HGF alpha but not beta/beta' subunits. Therefore, our results suggest that: 1) the motogenic effect of HGF on BMMC varies according to the stage of their development, 2) HGF stimulation of BMMC migration is due to selective activation of alpha 4 and alpha 6, but not alpha 5 integrin function, and 3) there exists a two-way relationship between BMMC and HGF such that HGF stimulates the beta 1 integrin-mediated migratory function of BMMC, which can, in turn, modulate HGF function by release of serine proteases.

Mast cell activation is not required for induction of airway hyperresponsiveness by ozone in mice

Exposure to ambient ozone (O3) is associated with increased exacerbations of asthma. We sought to determine whether mast cell degranulation is induced by in vivo exposure to O3 in mice and whether mast cells play an essential role in the development of pulmonary pathophysiological alterations induced by O3. For this we exposed mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-kitW/kitW-v (kitW/kitW-v) mice and the congenic normal WBB6F1 (+/+) mice to air or to 1 or 3 parts/million O3 for 4 h and studied them at different intervals from 4 to 72 h later. We found evidence of O3-induced cutaneous, as well as bronchial, mast cell degranulation. Polymorphonuclear cell influx into the pulmonary parenchyma was observed after exposure to 1 part/milllion O3 only in mice that possessed mast cells. Airway hyperresponsiveness to intravenous methacholine measured in vivo under pentobarbital anesthesia was observed in both kitW/kitW-v and +/+ mice after exposure to O3. Thus, although mast cells are activated in vivo by O3 and participate in O3-induced polymorphonuclear cell infiltration into the pulmonary parenchyma, they do not participate detectably in the development of O3-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in mice.

Reversible Expression of Tryptases and Chymases in the Jejunal Mast Cells of Mice Infected with Trichinella spiralis

It is has been established that mouse mast cells (MCs) can reversibly alter their expression of serglycin proteoglycans and the homologous granule chymases that have been designated mouse MC protease (mMCP)-1, mMCP-2, and mMCP-5 in vivo. Nevertheless, it remained to be determined whether these immune cells could modify their expression of other chymases and the granule tryptases mMCP-6 and mMCP-7. As assessed immunohistochemically, we now show that MCs reversibly change their expression of the recently described chymase mMCP-9 and both tryptases as these cells traverse the jejunum during the amplification and regression stages of the reactive MC hyperplasia. In noninfected mice, most jejunal MCs reside in the submucosa and express mMCP-6 and mMCP-7, but not mMCP-9 or the chymase mMCP-2. During the inductive phase of the helminth-induced inflammation, when the jejunal MCs move from the submucosa to the tips of the villus, the MCs briefly express mMCP-9, cease expressing mMCP-6 and mMCP-7, and then express mMCP-2. During the recovery phase of the inflammation, jejunal MCs cease expressing mMCP-2 and then express varied combinations of mMCP-6, mMCP-7, and mMCP-9 as they move from the tips of the villus back toward the submucosa. In other model systems, mMCP-6 elicits neutrophil extravasation, and mMCP-7 regulates fibrin deposition and fibrinogen-mediated signaling events. Thus, the ability of a jejunal MC to reversibly alter its tryptase expression during an inflammatory event has important functional implications.

Molecular characterization of Xenopus embryo heparan sulfate. Differential structural requirements for the specific binding to basic fibroblast growth factor and follistatin

Enzymatic elimination of heparan sulfate (HS) causes abnormal mesodermal and neural formation in Xenopus embryos, and HS plays an indispensable role in establishing the embryogenesis and tissue morphogenesis during early Xenopus development (Furuya, S., Sera, M., Tohno-oka, R., Sugahara, K., Shiokawa, K., and Hirabayashi, Y. (1995) Dev. Growth Differ. 37, 337-346). In this study, HS was purified from Xenopus embryos to investigate its disaccharide composition and binding ability to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and follistatin (FS), the latter being provided in two isoforms with core sequences of 315 and 288 amino acids (designated FS-315 and FS-288) originating from alternative mRNA splicing. Disaccharide composition analysis of the purified Xenopus HS showed the preponderance of a disulfated disaccharide unit with uronic acid 2-O-sulfate and glucosamine 2-N-sulfate, which has been implicated in the interactions with bFGF. Specific binding of the HS to bFGF and FS-288, the COOH-terminal truncated form, was observed in the filter binding assay, whereas HS did not bind to FS-315, indicating that the acidic Glu-rich domain of FS-315 precluded the binding. The binding of the HS to bFGF or FS-288 was markedly inhibited by heparin (HP) and various HS preparations, but not by chondroitin sulfate, supporting the binding specificity of HS. The binding specificity was further investigated using FS-288 and bovine intestinal [3H]HS. Competitive inhibition assays of the HS binding to FS-288 using size-defined HP oligosaccharides revealed that the minimum size required for significant inhibition was a dodecasaccharide, which is larger than the pentasaccharide required for bFGF binding. The binding affinity of FS to HS increased in the presence of activin, a growth/differentiation factor, which could be inactivated by direct binding to FS. These results, taken together, indicate that the structural requirement for binding of HS to bFGF and FS is different. HS may undergo dynamic changes in its structure during early Xenopus embryogenesis in response to the temporal and spatial expression of various growth/differentiation factors.

Effect of Chinese herbal medicines and disodium cromoglycate on IgE-dependent histamine release from mouse cultured mast cells

We examined the effect of anti-allergic Chinese herbal medicines such as Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang (MXGST) and Xiao-Feng-San (XFS), and a mast cell stabilizer, disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) on histamine release from mouse cultured mast cells. The mast cells (ILMCMC) were obtained by culturing mouse bone marrow cells for 3-6 weeks in the presence of IL-3. Some of the cells (FMCMC) were further cultured with a fibroblast cell line, 3T3 for 3 weeks. FMCMC had safranin-positive granules and released histamine in response to compound 48/80, whereas ILMCMC failed to do so. MXGST and XFS at 4-40 micrograms/ml inhibited IgE-dependent histamine release from ILMCMC but not from FMCMC. On the contrary, DSCG at 10(-4) M inhibited histamine release from FMCMC but not from ILMCMC. Chinese herbal medicines and DSCG may act on different types of mast cells.

Novel tetrasaccharides isolated from squid cartilage chondroitin sulfate E contain unusual sulfated disaccharide units GlcA(3-O-sulfate)beta1-3GalNAc(6-O-sulfate) or GlcA(3-O-sulfate)beta1-3GalNAc

We previously isolated novel tetrasaccharides containing 3-O-sulfated glucuronic acid from king crab cartilage chondroitin sulfate K and demonstrated that the disaccharide units containing 3-O-sulfated glucuronic acid were decomposed by chondroitinase ABC digestion (Sugahara, K., Tanaka, Y., Yamada, S., Seno, N., Kitagawa, H., Haslam, S. M., Morris, H. R., and Dell, A. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 26745-26754). The findings indicated the necessity to re-evaluate the disaccharide compositions of chondroitin sulfate preparations purified from other biological sources and analyzed using the above enzyme. In this study, to evaluate squid cartilage chondroitin sulfate E a series of even-numbered oligosaccharides were isolated after exhaustive digestion with sheep testicular hyaluronidase and subsequent fractionation by gel chromatography. The tetrasaccharide fraction was subfractionated by high performance liquid chromatography on an amine-bound silica column. Systematic structural analysis of five major fractions, h, l, m, n, and q, by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, enzymatic digestions in conjunction with capillary electrophoresis, and 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed one disulfated, three trisulfated, and one tetrasulfated tetrasaccharide structure: fraction h, GlcAbeta1-3GalNAc(4S)beta1-4GlcAbeta1-3GalNAc(4S); fraction l, GlcA(3S)beta1-3GalNAc(6S)beta1-4GlcAbeta1-3GalNAc(4S); fraction m, GlcA(3S)beta1-3GalNAc(4S)beta1-4GlcAbeta1-3GalNAc(4S); fraction n, GlcAbeta1-3GalNAc(4S,6S)beta1-4GlcAbeta1-3GalNAc(4S); and fraction q, GlcA(3S)beta1-3GalNAc(4S,6S)beta1-4GlcAbeta1-3GalNAc(4S), where 3S, 4S, and 6S represent 3-O-, 4-O- and 6-O-sulfate, respectively. The structures found in fractions h and m as well as the unsaturated counterpart of that found in fraction n have been reported, whereas those in fractions l and q are novel in that they contained unusual disulfated and trisulfated disaccharide units where GlcA(3S) is directly linked to GalNAc(6S) and GalNAc(4S,6S), respectively. These novel tetrasaccharide sequences are distinct from those found in other chondroitin sulfate isoforms and may play key roles in the biological functions and activities of chondroitin sulfate E not only from squid cartilage but also from mammalian cells and tissues.

Expression of mast-cell-specific proteases in tissues of mice studied by in situ hybridization

The protease mRNA expression phenotype of individual mast cells was studied by in situ hybridization. Mouse mast cell protease (MMCP)-2 mRNA was expressed by mast cells located in the mucosa of the stomach of WB(-)+/+ and (WB x C57BL/6)F1(-)+/+ (hereafter WBB6F1(-)+/+) mice but not by mast cells in the same tissue of C57BL/ 6(-)+/+ mice. Even in the stomach of WBB6F1(-)+/+ mice, mast cells located in the muscularis propria did not express MMCP-2 mRNA. The mRNAs of MMCP-4 and mouse mast cell carboxypeptidase A were not expressed by mast cells in the stomach mucosa of untreated WBB6F1(-)+/+ mice but were expressed after the infection of Strongyloides venezuelensis. We examined whether MMCP-2 mRNA expression varied by changing environments of mast cells. Cultured mast cells of WBB6F1(-)+/+ mice that expressed MMCP-2 mRNA were transplanted into the stomach wall of genetically mast-cell-deficient WBB6F1(-)W/Wv mice. Mast cells that appeared in the mucosa expressed the MMCP-2 mRNA, but mast cells that appeared in the muscularis propria did not, indicating the adaptation of cultured mast cells into a new environment. In contrast to cultured mast cells, peritoneal mast cells of WBB6F1(-)+/+ mice that expressed MMCP-2 mRNA as well did not adapt to the muscularis propria of WBB6F(1)-W/Wv mice. The MMCP-2 mRNA remained to be expressed after the settlement in either the mucosa or the muscularis propria. Furthermore, the peritoneal mast cells did not change the MMCP-4 and MMCP-6 mRNA expression phenotype after the settlement in either the mucosa or the muscularis propria of WBB6F(1)-W/Wv mice. The present result indicated that both intracellular factors such as strain specificity and source of mast cells and extracellular factors such as tissue specificity and helminth infection influenced the protease expression phenotypes.

Rat bone marrow-derived mast cells co-cultured with 3T3 fibroblasts in the absence of T-cell derived cytokines require stem cell factor for their survival and maintain their mucosal mast cell-like phenotype

When cultured without fibroblasts, rat bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) contain abundant rat mast cell proteinase type II (RMCP-II), and exhibit survival and proliferation when maintained in mesenteric lymph node conditioned medium (CM). When BMMC were co-cultured with 3T3 fibroblasts in the absence of CM, BMMC numbers increased for 7 days and the BMMC survived for up to 23 days. There was a gradual loss of stored RMCP-II in BMMC that were co-cultured with 3T3 cells, but the fibroblast microenvironment did not induce a detectable increase in the low levels of the connective tissue mast cell (CTMC)-associated proteinase, RMCP-I, in the BMMC. Nor did 3T3 cell co-culture induce significant heparin synthesis in BMMC as judged by the cells' reactivity with the fluorescent heparin-binding dye, berberine sulphate. These results suggest that rat BMMC, unlike murine BMMC, do not have the potential to develop multiple CTMC-like characteristics upon co-culture with 3T3 cells. However, when BMMC and fibroblast co-cultures were treated with an antibody to recombinant rat stem cell factor (rrSCF), mast cell survival was completely abrogated. This result suggests that endogenous, fibroblast-derived SCF is essential for the maintenance of rat BMMC viability in the absence of CM. On the other hand, prior treatment of the fibroblasts with the anti-rrSCF antibody did not affect the adherence of BMMC to the monolayer, implying that (an) other molecule(s) is(are) involved in the attachment process. The demonstration that rat BMMC survival on fibroblasts in vitro is dependent upon SCF may indicate an important mechanism by which tissue mucosal cells can be maintained in vivo in the absence of T-cell derived factors.

Detection of mouse mast cell-associated protease mRNA. Heparinase treatment greatly improves RT-PCR of tissues containing mast cell heparin

The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure is markedly inhibited in specimens of blood that contain commercial heparin as an anticoagulant or in cell preparations containing rat or mouse peritoneal mast cells. However, it was not known whether the levels of endogenous, mast cell-associated heparin that are present in some mammalian tissues are sufficient to interfere with the use of RT-PCR in these settings. We show that RT-PCR detects little or no mRNA transcripts for either mast cell-associated products, such as mouse mast cell-associated protease-2 or -4 (MMCP-2 or MMCP-4) or mast cell carboxypeptidase A, or for mast cell-nonspecific products, such as glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, in routinely prepared specimens of cells or tissues that include populations of heparin-containing mast cells. However, signals for mast cell-associated or mast cell-nonspecific transcripts can be readily detected in such specimens if they are treated with heparinase before RT-PCR. RT-PCR after heparinase treatment appears to represent an extremely sensitive method for detecting mast cell-associated transcripts in tissue specimens, permitting the identification of transcripts for mast cell-specific proteases in the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/WV mice, a tissue that contains few or no mast cells according to histological analysis.

Endothelin-1, one of the most potent histamine releasers in mouse peritoneal mast cells

Whether endothelin-1 or -3 is capable of inducing histamine release from the peritoneal mast cells of BALB/c mice was investigated in vitro and compared to the release induced by compound 48/80. In contrast to the mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells, which originated from the same strain and have been reported upon previously, the (both crude and purified) peritoneal mast cells potently secreted histamine in response to either endothelin-1 or endothelin-3 in a concentration-dependent fashion. Even at a concentration as low as 10 nM, endothelin-1 induced a histamine release of more than 50% from the peritoneal mast cells. Cyclo(D-Asp-Pro-D-Val-Leu-D-Trp) (BQ-123), an endothelin ETA receptor antagonist, markedly suppressed not only the histamine released induced by endothelin-1 but also that due to endothelin-3 at a similarly low concentration range. Treatment with islet-activating protein (IAP) for 3 h, an inactivator of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) (Gi)-protein, markedly reduced the histamine release induced by endothelin-1. Neomycin at 0.1 and 1 mM or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) at 0.1 mM in the absence of Ca2+, neither of which affected the histamine release induced by endothelin-1, substantially reduced histamine release caused by compound 48/80. On the other hand, treatment with O-O'-bis(2-aminophenyl)ethyleneglycol-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, tetraacetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM), an intracellular calcium chelating agent, completely inhibited the release induced by both endothelin-1 and compound 48/80. These results indicate that endothelin-1 is one of the most potent histamine releasers in mouse peritoneal mast cells discovered so far.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)