Microenvironmental factors that influence mast cell phenotype and function.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Swieter.
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Peritoneal mast cells (PMC) and intestinal mucosal mast cells (IMMC) were purified from rats infected with the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Overall protein constituents of both mast cell subtypes were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis using either nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis (NEPHGE) or isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the first dimension and SDS-PAGE (10%) in the second dimension followed by silver staining. PMC had seven dominant basic proteins (PB2-8; pI 9-9.5) with estimated molecular masses of 26 to 37 kDa, as well as 80 to 90 neutral or acidic proteins, most of which had pI 6 to 7.5 and estimated molecular masses of 20 to 100 kDa. All the basic proteins were granule-associated. Three basic proteins, PB6 (29 kDa), PB7 (28 kDa) and PB8 (RMCP I, 26 kDa), bound [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), suggesting that they are serine proteases. However, only PB8 was reactive with antibodies to RMCP I. Another basic component (less than 14 kDa), perhaps a degradation product of PB6, PB7 or PB8, also bound [3H]DFP. By comparison, IMMC possessed nine basic proteins (IB1-9) and, in general, they were more acidic (pI about 8.5-9) than those of PMC. Four major basic proteins (IB6-9) were all 24 kDa but were slightly different in isoelectric points. These and another 46-kDa basic component (IB2) were reactive with antibodies to RMCP II and bound [3H]DFP. There were no other DFP-binding proteins in IMMC. In spite of remarkable differences between basic granule-associated proteins in PMC and basic proteins in IMMC, spots in the neutral-acidic range were for the most part similar in the two mast cell subsets, although quantitative differences were evident for some spots. Thus, rat mast cell populations from the peritoneal cavity and intestinal mucosa exhibit marked heterogeneity in their protein constituents with basic pI, including in their granule-associated proteins with serine protease activity.
High-(Fc epsilon RI) and low-(Fc epsilon RII) affinity IgE receptors were isolated from surface radioiodinated, Nonidet-P40-solubilized rat intestinal mucosal mast cells (IMMC) and compared with those on rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC) and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells. Fc epsilon RII were isolated by affinity chromatography using IgE-Sepharose or by anti-Fc epsilon RII antisera and protein A-Sepharose. The surface-exposed, IgE-binding alpha subunits of Fc epsilon RI [Fc epsilon RI alpha] were isolated by affinity chromatography using IgE and anti-IgE-Sepharose. Fc epsilon RI alpha on IMMC had an apparent molecular mass of 59 kDa, somewhat larger than that of PMC (51 kDa), RBL-2H3 cells (51 kDa) or RBL-CA10.7 cells (46 kDa). Brief (45 s) incubation of IMMC or PMC in glycine-HCl, pH 3, prior to iodination removed much of the surface-bound IgE. This permitted more thorough labeling of the receptors, but had no affect on the estimate of receptor size. Surprisingly and in contrast to acid-treated PMC, upon anti-IgE-Sepharose isolation acid-treated IMMC yielded an intensely radioactive Fc epsilon RI alpha band in the absence of added IgE. Such a finding suggests that IMMC, more so than PMC, may have an intracellular store of IgE, as has been suggested by many others. IMMC also differed from PMC in the number of forms of Fc epsilon RII isolated; 50-kDa and 58-kDa forms of Fc epsilon RII were obtained from IMMC, whereas PMC yielded most often a single 56-kDa Fc epsilon RII band. These results were mimicked by the two RBL cell sublines: RBL-2H3 cells yielded two Fc epsilon RII (46 kDa and 55 kDa), but only one form of Fc epsilon RII (54-kDa) was obtained from RBL-CA10.7 cells. Thus, the two subtypes of rat mast cells, which have previously been shown to differ in mediator profile and responsiveness to secretagogues and antiallergic drugs, are also distinguished by differences in IgER profile.
High- (alpha chain) and low-affinity IgE receptors from purified populations of rat intestinal mucosal (IMMC) and peritoneal mast cells (PMC) were characterized by SDS-PAGE. Receptor expression and molecular weight were compared. IMMC yielded 59-kilodalton (kDa) alpha chains of the high-affinity receptors and two forms (58, 50 kDa) of low-affinity receptors, whereas PMC possessed only 51-kDa alpha chains and 56-kDa low-affinity receptors. These differences extend the evidence for functional diversity between mast cell subtypes.
Although mast cells and interferons are both involved in numerous immune and inflammatory responses, little is known about how microenvironmental factors such as interferons (IFNs) influence mast cell function. To study this question, sensitized peritoneal mast cells (greater than 98% purity) obtained from rats infected 4 weeks earlier with the parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis were preincubated for 24 hr with rat IFN-alpha/beta in RPMI-1640, then stimulated to degranulate with worm antigens. In the absence of antigen, IFN-alpha/beta had no noticeable effect on histamine release. However, in the presence of antigen, IFN-alpha/beta (150-1500 U/ml) inhibited histamine release in a dose-dependent manner (22.2 +/- 7.5% to 56.3 +/- 6.9%, n = 10). This inhibitory effect was neither heat (56 degrees for 1 hr) nor acid (pH 2 for 18 hr) labile, but was completely blocked by anti-IFN antibodies. In the presence of compound 48/80 (1 microgram/ml) or substance P (5 X 10(-5) M), IFN-alpha/beta was ineffective at modulating histamine release. Histamine release induced by antigen in the presence of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidyl-serine (30 micrograms/ml) was inhibited by IFN in a dose-dependent manner, but maximal inhibition (25.3 +/- 2.7%, n = 10) was reached at a lower concentration of IFN (750 U/ml) than when antigen was used alone. Therefore, rat IFN-alpha/beta appears to inhibit histamine release from rat mast cells in a dose- and stimulus-dependent manner and may do so by reducing the fluidity of the cell membrane.
In the absence of any specific literature on the isolation of RNA from mast cells, our initial attempts established that unusual measures would be needed to prepare acceptable yields of high quality RNA from peritoneal mast cells of normal adult rats. Accordingly, we developed procedures for the isolation and characterization of RNA from rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC) and basophilic leukemia cells (RBL). The significant components of the procedures include: separation and removal of mast cell granules to minimize contamination of RNA with proteins and proteoglycans; use of bentonite in phenol extractions; and repetition of extractions and precipitation. The amounts of total RNA extracted from PMC were about 15% of those from RBL, although the percentage mRNA of total RNA in PMC and RBL was similar (1.8 and 2.0%). Ribosomal RNA banding patterns in agarose gel electrophoresis and in vitro translation experiments indicate that the isolated RNA can be employed for analysis of molecular mechanisms of mast cell function and heterogeneity.
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Although mast cells are widely distributed in the body, their functions are poorly known. The elucidation of mast cell function is complicated by growing evidence that mast cells are heterogeneous. Recent studies of mast cell ontogeny suggest that microenvironmental stimuli control the phenotypic expression of parts of the genome leading to subtype differences in a common lineage. Mast cells influence cell proliferation, differentiation, and activation in a range of target cells, although until recently they were considered important only in immediate hypersensitivity. However, they function in delayed-type hypersensitivity, potentiate cytotoxicity of eosinophils and macrophages, and are cytotoxic for certain targets themselves. Mast cell mediators influence blood flow and vascular permeability and facilitate angiogenesis. Numerous mast cell mediators are immunoregulatory. In vitro experiments have begun to investigate the role of mast cells in fibrotic diseases. Further knowledge of mast cell heterogeneity will provide the basis for new therapies in inflammatory diseases of the intestine and other organs.
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In the rat, two distinct mast cell subsets have been identified. One, represented by the easily accessible and purified peritoneal mast cell, differs from the other, the intestinal mucosal mast cell, in staining properties, fixation sensitivity, mediator content, and responsiveness to various secretagogues and antiallergic drugs. To investigate the molecular basis and control mechanisms of mast cell heterogeneity, we have initiated sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the constituents of rat peritoneal and intestinal mucosal mast cells; developed subcellular fractionation protocols to facilitate these comparisons; produced a mast cell specific rabbit antiserum, and established methods to isolate mast cell RNA. These approaches require refinement, but will prove to be useful in further investigations of mast cell biology.
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