Author response for "The role of galanin in the differentiation of mucosal mast cells in mice"

ABSTRACTThe gastrointestinal mucosa is the primary site where human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) invades, amplifies, and becomes persistently established, and cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 plays a pivotal role in mucosal viral dissemination. Mast cells are widely distributed in the gastrointestinal tract and are early targets for invasive pathogens, and they have been shown to have increased density in the genital mucosa in HIV-infected women. Intestinal mast cells express numerous pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and have been shown to combat various viral, parasitic, and bacterial infections. However, the role of mast cells in HIV-1 infection is poorly defined. In this study, we investigated their potential contributions to HIV-1 transmission. Mast cells isolated from gut mucosal tissues were found to express a variety of HIV-1 attachment factors (HAFs), such as DC-SIGN, heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), and α4β7 integrin, which mediate capture of HIV-1 on the cell surface. Intriguingly, following coculture with CD4+T cells, mast cell surface-bound viruses were efficiently transferred to target T cells. Prior blocking with anti-HAF antibody or mannan before coculture impaired viraltrans-infection. Cell-cell conjunctions formed between mast cells and T cells, to which viral particles were recruited, and these were required for efficient cell-to-cell HIV-1 transmission. Our results reveal a potential function of gut mucosal mast cells in HIV-1 dissemination in tissues. Strategies aimed at preventing viral capture and transfer mediated by mast cells could be beneficial in combating primary HIV-1 infection.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we demonstrate the role of human mast cells isolated from mucosal tissues in mediating HIV-1trans-infection of CD4+T cells. This finding facilitates our understanding of HIV-1 mucosal infection and will benefit the development of strategies to combat primary HIV-1 dissemination.

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Mast cell heterogeneity

Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1139/y84-121 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 62 (6) ◽

pp. 734-737 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

F. Shanahan ◽

J. A. Denburg ◽

J. Bienenstock ◽

A. D. Befus

Keyword(s):

Mast Cell ◽

Mast Cells ◽

Connective Tissue ◽

Regulatory Peptides ◽

Cell Heterogeneity ◽

Cell Secretion ◽

Biochemical Basis ◽

Mucosal Mast Cells ◽

Mast Cell Heterogeneity

Increasing evidence for the existence of inter- and intra-species mast cell heterogeneity has expanded the potential biological role of this cell. Early studies suggesting that mast cells at mucosal sites differ morphologically and histochemically from connective tissue mast cells have been confirmed using isolated intestinal mucosal mast cells in the rat and more recently in man. These studies also established that mucosal mast cells are functionally distinct from connective tissue mast cells. Thus, mucosal and connective tissue mast cells differ in their responsiveness to a variety of mast cell secretagogues and antiallergic agents. Speculation about the therapeutic use of antiallergic drugs in disorders involving intestinal mast cells cannot, therefore, be based on extrapolation from studies of their effects on mast cells from other sites. Regulatory mechanisms for mast cell secretion may also be heterogeneous since mucosal mast cells differ from connective tissue mast cells in their response to a variety of physiologically occurring regulatory peptides. The development of techniques to purify isolated mast cell sub-populations will facilitate future analysis of the biochemical basis of the functional heterogeneity of mast cells.

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Mast cells are associated with exacerbations and eosinophilia in children with severe asthma

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.00947-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 1320-1328 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Guillaume Lezmi ◽

Louise Galmiche-Rolland ◽

Sabine Rioux ◽

Francis Jaubert ◽

Isabelle Tillie-Leblond ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Mast Cells ◽

Severe Asthma ◽

Airway Smooth Muscle ◽

Eosinophilic Inflammation ◽

Symptomatic Group ◽

Mucosal Mast Cells ◽

Bronchial Biopsies ◽

Positive Correlations

The role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of childhood asthma is poorly understood. We aimed to estimate the implication of airway mucosal mast cells in severe asthma and their relationship with clinical, functional, inflammatory and remodelling parameters.Bronchial biopsies were performed in 36 children (5–18 years) with severe asthma: 24 had frequent severe exacerbations and/or daily symptoms in the previous year (symptomatic group), and 12 had few symptoms and a persistent obstructive pattern (paucisymptomatic group). Nine children without asthma were included as control subjects. We assessed mast cells in the submucosa and airway smooth muscle using c-kit antibodies and in the entire biopsy area using Giemsa.The number of submucosal mast cells was higher in the symptomatic group than in the paucisymptomatic group (p=0.02). The number of submucosal mast cells correlated with the number of severe exacerbations (p=0.02, r=0.37). There were positive correlations between the number of submucosal mast cells (p<0.01, r=0.44), airway smooth muscle mast cells (p=0.02, r= 0.40), mast cells stained by Giemsa (p<0.01, r=0.44) and submucosal eosinophils.Mast cells are associated with severe exacerbations and submucosal eosinophilic inflammation in children with severe asthma.

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