PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Jean S Marshall

Publications and source records attributed to Jean S Marshall.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

New and emerging roles for mast cells in host defence.

Mast cells are highly effective sentinel cells, found close to blood vessels and especially common sites of potential infection, such as the skin, airways and gastrointestinal tract. Mast cells participate actively in the innate immune responses to many pathogens through a broad spectrum of mediators that can be selectively generated. They also have a role as innate effector cells in enhancing the earliest processes in the development of acquired immune responses. Studies of bacterial and parasitic models have revealed mast cell dependent regulation of effector cell recruitment, mucosal barrier function and lymph node hypertrophy. An important role for mast cells in viral infection is also implied by several in vivo and in vitro studies. There are multiple direct and indirect pathways by which mast cells can be selectively activated by pathogens including Toll-like receptors, co-receptors and complement component receptors. Understanding the mechanisms and scope of the contribution of mast cells to host defence will be crucial to regulating their activity therapeutically.

Animals↗

A dominant role for FcgammaRII in antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection of human mast cells and associated CCL5 release.

Dengue virus is a major mosquito-borne human pathogen with four known serotypes. The presence of antidengue virus antibodies in the serum of individuals prior to dengue virus infection is believed to be an important risk factor for severe dengue virus disease as a result of the phenomenon of antibody-dependent enhancement operating on Fc receptor (FcR)-bearing cells. In addition to blood monocytes, mast cells are susceptible to antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection, producing a number of inflammatory mediators including IL-1, IL-6, and CCL5. Using the human mast cell-like lines KU812 and HMC-1 as well as primary cultures of human cord blood-derived mast cells (CBMC), we aimed to identify the participating FcRs in antibody-enhanced mast cell dengue virus infection, as FcRs represent a potential site for therapeutic intervention. CBMC expressed significant levels of FcgammaRI, FcgammaRII, and FcgammaRIII, and mast cell-like HMC-1 and KU812 cells expressed predominantly FcgammaRII. All four serotypes of dengue virus showed antibody-enhanced binding to KU812 cells. Specific FcgammaRII blockade with mAb IV.3 was found to significantly abrogate dengue virus binding to KU812 cells and CBMC in the presence of dengue-specific antibody. Dengue virus infection and the production of CCL5 by KU812 cells were also inhibited by FcgammaRII blockade.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Mast cells have a pivotal role in TNF-independent lymph node hypertrophy and the mobilization of Langerhans cells in response to bacterial peptidoglycan.

Peptidoglycan (PGN) from Gram-positive bacteria, activates multiple immune effector cells. PGN-induced lymph node (LN) hypertrophy and dendritic cell mobilization in vivo were investigated following PGN injection into the skin. Both LN activation and the migration of Langerhans cells (LCs) to draining LNs were dependent on the presence of mast cells as demonstrated using mast cell deficient W/W(v) mice. However, these responses did not require TLR2, TLR4, or MYD88. TNF-deficient mice exhibited normal increases in LN cellularity but significantly reduced LC migration. In contrast, responses to IgE-mediated mast cell activation were highly TNF dependent. Complement component C3-deficient mice showed decreased LN hypertrophy and abrogated LC migration in response to PGN. These data demonstrate a critical role for mast cells and complement in LN responses to PGN and illustrate a novel TNF-independent mechanism whereby mast cells participate in the initiation of immunity.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Fungal zymosan induces leukotriene production by human mast cells through a dectin-1-dependent mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Fungi are capable of causing or exacerbating inflammatory disease in the airways. We have previously demonstrated that zymosan and peptidoglycan induce the production of cysteinyl leukotrienes from human mast cells. However, the mechanisms of pathogen-induced leukotriene production by immune effector cells are very poorly understood. The coreceptor dectin-1, through a Syk tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway, can mediate some responses to fungal challenge, but its expression by mast cells and its involvement in lipid mediator responses have not been assessed. OBJECTIVE: In the current study, the potential role of dectin-1 in zymosan-induced leukotriene production from human mast cells was examined. METHODS: Human mast cells were examined for dectin-1 mRNA and protein expression. Human mast cells were incubated with either zymosan or peptidoglycan in the presence or absence of specific inhibitors for dectin-1 or Syk tyrosine kinase and mediator production examined. RESULTS: Human mast cells were found to express a functional isoform of dectin-1. Both peptidoglycan and zymosan induced significant amounts of leukotriene (LT)-B4 and LTC4. The dectin-1 inhibitors laminarin and glucan phosphate reduced the LTC4 response to zymosan by more than 60% but did not alter peptidoglycan responses. Inhibitors of Syk tyrosine kinase activity significantly decreased LTC4 production in response to both peptidoglycan and zymosan. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate mast cell expression of the coreceptor dectin-1 and a role for this molecule in the generation of cysteinyl leukotrienes. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest new approaches to the selective inhibition of lipid mediator production in response to fungal infection or exposure.

Blotting, Western↗

IgE-mediated mast cell activation induces Langerhans cell migration in vivo.

Langerhans cells and mast cells are both resident in large numbers in the skin and act as sentinel cells in host defense. The ability of mast cells to induce Langerhans cell migration from the skin to the draining lymph node in vivo was examined. Genetically mast cell-deficient (W/Wv) mice and control mice were sensitized with IgE Ab in the ear pinna. Seven to 14 days later, mice were challenged with Ag i.v. After a further 18-24 h, epidermal sheets and draining auricular lymph nodes were examined using Langerin/CD207 immunostaining. In mast cell-containing mice, a significant decrease in the number of Langerhans cells was observed at epidermal sites of mast cell activation. A significant increase in total cellularity and accumulation of Langerin-positive dendritic cells was observed in the auricular lymph nodes, draining the sites of IgE-mediated mast cell activation. These changes were not observed in W/Wv mice, but were restored by local mast cell reconstitution. Treatment of mast cell-containing mice with the H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine significantly inhibited the observed IgE/Ag-induced changes in Langerhans cell location. In contrast, Langerhans cell migration in response to LPS challenge was not mast cell dependent. These data directly demonstrate the ability of mast cells to induce dendritic cell migration to lymph nodes following IgE-mediated activation in vivo by a histamine-dependent mechanism.

Animals↗

The development of early host response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection is critically dependent on myeloid differentiation factor 88 in mice.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) induce distinct patterns of host responses through myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent and/or -independent pathways, depending on the nature of the pathogen. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a cause of serious lung infection in immunocompromised individuals and cystic fibrosis patients. The role of the TLR-MyD88 pathway in P. aeruginosa-induced lung infection in vivo was examined in this study. MyD88-/- mice demonstrated an impaired clearance of P. aeruginosa from the lung. Little or no neutrophil recruitment was observed in the airways of MyD88-/- mice following P. aeruginosa lung infection. This observation was associated with a reduced production of inflammatory mediators that affect neutrophil recruitment, including macrophage-inflammatory protein-2, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-1beta in the airways of MyD88-/- mice. Similarly, MyD88-/- mice showed inhibited NF-kappaB activation in the lung following P. aeruginosa infection. Interestingly, P. aeruginosa infection induced a 7.5-fold increase of TLR2 mRNA expression in the lungs of MyD88+/+ mice. Furthermore, host responses to P. aeruginosa lung infection in TLR2-/- and TLR4 mutant mice were partially inhibited compared with the responses of respective control mice. Taken together, our results indicate that the MyD88-dependent pathway is essential for the development of early host responses to P. aeruginosa infection, leading to the clearance of this bacterium, and that TLR2 and TLR4 are involved in this process.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Prostaglandin E2 induces degranulation-independent production of vascular endothelial growth factor by human mast cells.

Mast cells accumulate in large numbers at angiogenic sites, where they have been shown to express a number of proangiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). PGE(2) is known to strongly promote angiogenesis and is found in increased levels at sites of chronic inflammation and around solid tumors. The expression pattern of VEGF and the regulation of VEGF-A by PGE(2) were examined in cord blood-derived human mast cells (CBMC). CBMC expressed mRNA for five isoforms of VEGF-A and other members of the VEGF family (VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D) with strong expression of the most potent secretory isoforms. PGE(2) was a very strong inducer of VEGF-A(121/165) production by CBMC and also elevated VEGF-A mRNA expression. The amount of VEGF-A(121/165) protein production induced by PGE(2) was 4-fold greater than that induced by IgE-mediated activation of CBMC. Moreover, the response to PGE(2) as well as to other cAMP-elevating agents such as forskolin and salbutamol was observed under conditions that were not associated with mast cell degranulation. CBMC expressed substantial levels of the EP(2) receptor, but not the EP(4) receptor, when examined by flow cytometry. In contrast to other reported PGE(2)-mediated effects on mast cells, VEGF-A(121/165) production occurred via activation of the EP(2) receptor. These data suggest a role for human mast cells as a potent source of VEGF(121/165) in the absence of degranulation, and may provide new opportunities to regulate angiogenesis at mast cell-rich sites.

Albuterol↗

Mast cells in innate immunity.

Mast cells have been most extensively studied in their traditional role as an early effector cell of allergic disease. However, in the majority of individuals, it might be the role of this cell as a sentinel in host defense that is most important. Mast cells have been repeatedly demonstrated to play a critical role in defense against bacterial infections, and evidence for their involvement in early responses to viral and fungal pathogens is growing. Mast cells are activated during innate immune responses by multiple mechanisms, including well-established responses to complement components. In addition, novel mechanisms have emerged as a result of the explosion of knowledge in our understanding of pattern-recognition receptors. The mast cell shares many features with other innate immune effector cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages. However, a unique role for mast cells is defined not only by their extensive mediator profile but also by their ability to interact with the vasculature, to expedite selective cell recruitment, and to set the stage for an appropriate acquired response.

Humans↗

Mast-cell responses to pathogens.

Mast cells have mainly been studied in the setting of allergic disease, but the importance of mast cells for host defence against several pathogens has now been well established. The location of mast cells, which are found closely associated with blood vessels, allows them to have a crucial sentinel role in host defence. The mast cell has a unique 'armamentarium' of receptor systems and mediators for responding to pathogen-associated signals. Studies of this intriguing immune-effector cell provide important insights into the complex mechanisms by which appropriate innate and acquired immune responses are initiated.

Animals↗

Cutting edge: distinct Toll-like receptor 2 activators selectively induce different classes of mediator production from human mast cells.

Mast cells play a critical role in host defense against bacterial infection. Murine mast cells produce cytokines in response to bacterial peptidoglycan and LPS via Toll-like receptor (TLR) TLR2- and TLR4-dependent mechanisms. The expression of TLRs by human mast cells and responses to known TLR activators was examined. Human mast cells expressed mRNA for TLR1, TLR2, and TLR6 but not TLR4. Bacterial peptidoglycan and yeast zymosan were potent inducers of GM-CSF and IL-1beta and also induced substantial short-term cysteinyl leukotriene generation. In contrast, a synthetic triacylated lipopeptide induced short-term degranulation but failed to induce cysteinyl leukotriene production. The TLR4 activator Escherichia coli LPS did not induce a GM-CSF, IL-1beta leukotriene, or degranulation response. These data demonstrate highly selective production of different classes of mast cell mediators in response to distinct TLR activators of potential importance to the host response to bacterial or fungal pathogens.

Cell Degranulation↗

Selective early production of CCL20, or macrophage inflammatory protein 3alpha, by human mast cells in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Mast cells are important as sentinel cells in host defense against bacterial infection. Much of their effectiveness depends upon recruiting other immune cells; however, little is known about the mechanisms of this response. CCL20, also known as macrophage inflammatory protein-3alpha (MIP-3alpha), Exodus, and LARC, is a chemokine known to be a potent chemoattractant for immature dendritic cells and T cells. In this study, we examined the human mast cell production of both CCL20 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a critical cytokine for innate immune responses in the lung, in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the human mast cells (HMC-1) express CCL20 mRNA and are able to produce a significant amount (32.4 ng/ml) of CCL20 protein following stimulation by calcium ionophore and phorbol myristate acetate. Importantly, P. aeruginosa potently stimulated CCL20 production in human cord blood-derived mast cells (CBMC), with production peaking at 6 h after stimulation. This time course of expression was distinct from that of GM-CSF, which peaked after 24 to 48 h. Significant CCL20 production did not occur following immunoglobulin E-mediated activation of CBMC under conditions which induced a substantial GM-CSF response. Interestingly, the CCL20 response of mast cells to P. aeruginosa was relatively resistant to inhibition by the corticosteroid dexamethasone, interleukin-10, or cyclosporine, while GM-CSF production was potently inhibited. However, P. aeruginosa-induced CCL20 production was blocked by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Ro 31-8220 and a PKC pseudosubstrate. These results support a role for human mast cells in the initiation of immune responses to P. aeruginosa infection.

Cell Line↗

Development of an interleukin-12-deficient mouse model that is permissive for colonization by a motile KE26695 strain of Helicobacter pylori.

The identification of genes associated with colonization and persistence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa has been limited by the lack of robust animal models that support infection by strains whose genomes have been completely sequenced. Here we report that an interleukin-12 (IL-12)-deficient mouse (IL-12(-/-) p40 subunit knockout in C57BL/6 mouse) is permissive for infection by a motile variant (KE88-3887) of The Institute For Genomic Research-sequenced strain (KE26695) of H. pylori. The IL-12-deficient mouse was also more permissive for colonization by the mouse-colonizing Sydney 1 strain of H. pylori than were wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Differences in colonization efficiency were demonstrated by mouse challenge with SS1 strains containing loss-of-function mutations in two genes (hspR and hrcA), whose products negatively regulate several heat shock genes. At 5 weeks postinfection, double-knockout mutants (SS1 hspR hrcA) efficiently colonized IL-12-deficient mice (5 of 5 animals compared to 4 of 10 for C57BL6 mice) and bacterial counts were higher in stomachs of IL-12-deficient mice (10(6) versus 10(5) CFU/g of stomach, respectively). IL-12-deficient mice were efficiently colonized by KE88-3887 (29 of 30), but not by nonmotile KE26695, and bacterial numbers (10(4) to 10(5) CFU/g of stomach) were unchanged over an 8-week period postinfection. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice were inefficiently colonized by KE88-3887 (8 of 20 animals with bacterial loads at the limit of detection, approximately 10(3) CFU/g), and infection did not persist much beyond 5 weeks. Cytokine responses (tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon), pathology, and antral-predominant infection were indistinguishable between IL-12-deficient and C57BL/6 mice. The increased permissiveness of the IL-12-deficient mouse for infection with H. pylori should facilitate whole-genome-based strategies to study genes associated with virulence and immune modulation.

Animals↗

Toll-like receptor-mediated activation of mast cells: implications for allergic disease?

Toll-like receptors have a critical role in innate immunity and host defence. However their role in allergic disease has not been studied in great detail. The presence of these receptors on mast cells opens up new possibilities concerning the role of Toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of asthma and atopic dermatitis. The current review examines the biology of Toll-like receptors expressed on mast cells. In particular, mast cell expression of Toll-like receptors and the diverse responses observed following Toll-like receptor-mediated activation are considered. Several pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and respiratory syncytial virus are known to contribute to the development or maintenance of allergic disease and also express potent activators of the Toll-like receptor pathways. The importance of such interactions and the full role of pathogens in chronic allergic disease remain to be elucidated. The unusual ability of Toll-like receptor 2 activators to selectively induce leukotriene production by mast cells opens up new possibilities concerning mechanisms of disease exacerbation during infection.

Animals↗

Mast cell cytokine and chemokine responses to bacterial and viral infection.

Mast cells have been most widely studied in the context of allergic disease but also play a critical role in host defence against bacterial infection, most elegantly demonstrated in studies using mast cell deficient w/wv mice. There is less data available concerning the role of mast cells in defence against viral pathogens, however, mast cells have been demonstrated to be a potential reservoir of infection for several pathogens, such as HIV-1 and dengue, and capable of producing mediators following challenge with a number of viral products. Traditional mast cell mediators such as histamine, protease enzymes and leukotrienes are important for effective host responses. The cytokines and chemokines produced by mast cells in response to pathogens are known to profoundly alter the nature of the innate immune response and its effectiveness in eliminating infection. Cytokine and chemokine production by mast cells is closely regulated and may occur independently of classical mast cell degranulation. Depending upon the nature of the stimulus or type of infection, a unique profile of cytokines is induced. In this review, we will examine the role and regulation of mast cell cytokines and chemokines in the context of a number of bacterial and viral infections, emphasizing the multiple receptor mechanisms used to activate mast cells. This area of research is still in its early stages and much work remains to be done. However, understanding the unique properties of resident tissue mast cells and how their cytokine responses are regulated by pathogens or pathogen products, will provide important opportunities for the therapeutic manipulation of local immune responses.

Animals↗

Dengue virus selectively induces human mast cell chemokine production.

Severe dengue virus infections usually occur in individuals who have preexisting anti-dengue virus antibodies. Mast cells are known to play an important role in host defense against several pathogens, but their role in viral infection has not yet been elucidated. The effects of dengue virus infection on the production of chemokines by human mast cells were examined. Elevated levels of secreted RANTES, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-1beta, but not IL-8 or ENA-78, were observed following infection of KU812 or HMC-1 human mast cell-basophil lines. In some cases a >200-fold increase in RANTES production was observed. Cord blood-derived cultured human mast cells treated with dengue virus in the presence of subneutralizing concentrations of dengue virus-specific antibody also demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) increased RANTES production, under conditions which did not induce significant degranulation. Chemokine responses were not observed when mast cells were treated with UV-inactivated dengue virus in the presence or absence of human dengue virus-specific antibody. Neither antibody-enhanced dengue virus infection of the highly permissive U937 monocytic cell line nor adenovirus infection of mast cells induced a RANTES, MIP-1alpha, or MIP-1beta response, demonstrating a selective mast cell response to dengue virus. These results suggest a role for mast cells in the initiation of chemokine-dependent host responses to dengue virus infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Human mast cells induce caspase-independent DNA fragmentation in leukemic T cells.

Mast cells are known to play an important role in inflammation and host defense. Recent evidence suggests that mast cells may also participate in immune surveillance against cancer cells. In this study, we demonstrate that human mast cells are able to trigger apoptosis in Jurkat T leukemia cells. Fragmentation of Jurkat cell DNA was detectable by JAM assay within 4 h of exposure to HMC-1 mast cells or cultured human cord blood-derived mast cells. HMC-1 mast cells that were fixed with paraformaldehyde retained the ability to induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells while cell-free conditioned supernatants from HMC-1 cell cultures failed to elicit DNA fragmentation, suggesting that mast cells mediate anti-tumor activity via a cell-surface molecule. Surprisingly, the apoptosis-inducing activity of HMC-1 mast cells was not mediated by known tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily members (TNF-alpha, Fas ligand, TRAIL, TWEAK), nor did the fragmentation of Jurkat cell DNA by mast cells require the activity of caspase-3, -8, or -9. Collectively, these data indicate that mast cells trigger caspase-independent apoptosis in leukemic cells via a novel cell-surface molecule, and are consistent with a role for mast cells as anti-tumor effector cells.

Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins↗