The MAP Kinases and Their Role in Mast Cells and Basophils

Author(s):  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
Michael A. Beaven
Keyword(s):  
2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 6363-6374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. B. Craig ◽  
Peter A. Greer

ABSTRACT Mast cells play important roles in inflammation and immunity and express the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (FcεRI) and the receptor protein-tyrosine kinase Kit. Aggregation of FcεRI via antigen binding elicits signals leading to the release of preformed inflammatory mediators as well as de novo-synthesized lipid mediators and cytokines and to elevated cell adhesion and migration. Here, we report that in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells, Fer kinase is activated downstream of activated FcεRI and activated Kit receptor, and this activation is abolished in cells homozygous for a kinase-inactivating mutation in Fer (fer DR/DR ). Interestingly, the highly related Fps/Fes kinase is also activated upon FcεRI aggregation. This report represents the first description of a common signaling pathway activating Fer and Fps/Fes. While Fer-deficient cells showed similar activation of the Erk mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, p38 MAP kinase activation was less sustained than that in wild-type cells. Although no major defects were observed in degranulation, leukotriene biosynthesis, and cytokine secretion, Fer-deficient cells displayed increased adhesion and decreased motility upon activation of FcεRI and the Kit receptor. The restoration of Fer kinase activity in fer DR/DR mast cells resulted in prolonged p38 kinase activation and increased antigen-mediated cell migration of sensitized mast cells. Thus, Fer is required for maximal p38 kinase activation to promote the chemotaxis of activated mast cells. Further studies with mast cells derived from fps/fes-deficient mice will be required to provide insight into the role of Fps/Fes in mast cell activation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 233 (10) ◽  
pp. 1271-1279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Ho Lee ◽  
Jie Wan Kim ◽  
Na Young Ko ◽  
Se Hwan Mun ◽  
Do Kyun Kim ◽  
...  

Complementary and alternative medicines are considered as a promising direction for the development of anti-allergic therapies in oriental countries. We screened approximately 100 oriental herbal medicines for anti-allergic activity. Sophorae flos exhibited the most potent effect on degranulation in antigen-stimulated mast cells. We further investigated the effect of Sophorae flos on the IgE-mediated allergic response in vivo and its mechanism of action in mast cells. Sophorae flos exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on degranulation in antigen-stimulated mast cells with IC50 values of ~31.6 μg/mL (RBL-2H3 mast cells) and ~47.8 μg/mL (bone marrow-derived mast cells). Sophorae flos also suppressed the expression and secretion of TNF-α and IL-4 in the cells and IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in mice. Sophorae flos inhibited the activating phosphorylation of Syk and LAT in mast cells. Further downstream, activating phosphorylation of Akt and the prototypic MAP kinases, namely, p38, ERK1/2, and JNK, were also inhibited. These results suggest that Sophorae flos inhibits the Src family kinase-dependent signaling cascades in mast cells and may thus exert anti-allergic activity.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 376
Author(s):  
Pia Lazki-Hagenbach ◽  
Hydar Ali ◽  
Ronit Sagi-Eisenberg

The identification of the Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptors (Mrgpr) as targets of diverse stimuli of mast cells (MCs), including neuropeptides and pseudo-allergy causing drugs, has placed these receptors at a prime position in MC research. However, the species-dependent diversity of these receptors raises the need for an adequate model for investigating the human MRGPRX2 receptor. RBL-2H3 cells, stably transfected with MRGPRX2 (RBL-MRGPRX2), are increasingly used for this purpose. Therefore, we investigated whether ectopically expressed MRGPRX2, in rat MCs, recapitulates its authentic signaling. To this purpose, we performed a broad comparative study of the responses of human LAD-2 MCs that express MRGPRX2 endogenously, and RBL-MRGPRX2 cells to compound 48/80, substance P and vancomycin, three proto-type ligands of MRGPRX2. We demonstrate that both models share similar dose–response relationships, kinetics and sensitivities to a wide range of signaling targeting drugs. Therefore, our results indicate that ectopically expressed MRGPRX2 preserves the signaling pathways employed to evoke human MC degranulation, which we show to rely on ERK1/2 MAP kinases, phospholipase C (PLC) and autophagy-related signaling. Importantly, we also show that the underlying mechanisms of MRGPRX2-triggered MC degranulation in either LAD-2 or RBL-MRGPRX2 cells are different from those elicited by its rodent orthologs.


2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejun Chen ◽  
François Niyonsaba ◽  
Hiroko Ushio ◽  
Isao Nagaoka ◽  
Shigaku Ikeda ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
R. Courtoy ◽  
L.J. Simar ◽  
J. Christophe

Several chemical compounds induce amine liberation from mast cells but do not necessarily provoque the granule expulsion. For example, poly-dl-lysine induces modifications of the cellular membrane permeability which promotes ion exchange at the level of mast cell granules. Few of them are expulsed but the majority remains in the cytoplasm and appears less dense to the electrons. A cytochemical analysis has been performed to determine the composition of these granules after the polylysine action.We have previously reported that it was possible to demonstrate polyanions on epon thin sections using a cetylpyridinium ferric thiocyanate method. Organic bases are selectively stained with cobalt thiocyanate and the sulfhydryle groups are characterized with a silver methenamine reaction. These techniques permit to reveal the mast cell granule constituents, i.e. heparin, biogenic amines and basic proteins.


Author(s):  
J.R. Pfeiffer ◽  
J.C. Seagrave ◽  
C. Wofsy ◽  
J.M. Oliver

In RBL-2H3 rat leukemic mast cells, crosslinking IgE-receptor complexes with anti-IgE antibody leads to degranulation. Receptor crosslinking also stimulates the redistribution of receptors on the cell surface, a process that can be observed by labeling the anti-IgE with 15 nm protein A-gold particles as described in Stump et al. (1989), followed by back-scattered electron imaging (BEI) in the scanning electron microscope. We report that anti-IgE binding stimulates the redistribution of IgE-receptor complexes at 37“C from a dispersed topography (singlets and doublets; S/D) to distributions dominated sequentially by short chains, small clusters and large aggregates of crosslinked receptors. These patterns can be observed (Figure 1), quantified (Figure 2) and analyzed statistically. Cells incubated with 1 μg/ml anti-IgE, a concentration that stimulates maximum net secretion, redistribute receptors as far as chains and small clusters during a 15 min incubation period. At 3 and 10 μg/ml anti-IgE, net secretion is reduced and the majority of receptors redistribute rapidly into clusters and large aggregates.


Author(s):  
Kenichi Takaya

Mast cell and basophil granules of the vertebrate contain heparin or related sulfated proteoglycans. Histamine is also present in mammalian mast cells and basophils. However, no histamine is detected in mast cell granules of the amphibian or fish, while it is shown in those of reptiles and birds A quantitative x-ray microanalysis of mast cell granules of fresh frozen dried ultrathin sections of the tongue of Wistar rats and tree frogs disclosed high concentrations of sulfur in rat mast cell granules and those of sulfur and magnesium in the tree frog granules. Their concentrations in tree frog mast cell granules were closely correlated (r=0.94).Fresh frozen dried ultrathin sections and fresh air-dried prints of the tree frog tongue and spleen and young red-eared turtle (ca. 6 g) spleen and heart blood were examined by a quantitative energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis (X-650, Kevex-7000) for the element constituents of the granules of mast cells and basophils. The specimens were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (80-200 kV) and followed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) under an analytical electron microscope (X-650) at an acceleration voltage of 40 kV and a specimen current of 0.2 nA. A spot analysis was performed in a STEM mode for 100 s at a specimen current of 2 nA on the mast cell and basophil granules and other areas of the cells. Histamine was examined by the o-phthalaldehyde method.


Author(s):  
D.S. Friend ◽  
N. Ghildyal ◽  
M.F. Gurish ◽  
K.F. Austen ◽  
R.L. Stevens

Trichinella spiralis induces a profound mastocytosis and eosinophilia in the small intestine of the infected mouse. Mouse mast cells (MC) store in their granules various combinations of at least five chymotryptic chymases [designated mouse MC protease (mMCP) 1 to 5], two tryptic proteases designated mMCP-6 and mMCP-7 and an exopeptidase, carboxypeptidase A (mMC-CPA). Using antipeptide, protease -specific antibodies to these MC granule proteases, immunohistochemistry was done to determine the distribution, number and protease phenotype of the MCs in the small intestine and spleen 10 to >60 days after Trichinella infection of BALB/c and C3H mice. TEM was performed to evaluate the granule morphology of the MCs between intestinal epithelial cells and in the lamina propria (mucosal MCs) and in the submucosa, muscle and serosa of the intestine (submucosal MCs).As noted in the table below, the number of submucosal MCs remained constant throughout the study. In contrast, on day 14, the number of MCs in the mucosa increased ~25 fold. Increased numbers of MCs were observed between epithelial cells in the mucosal crypts, in the lamina propria and to a lesser extent, between epithelial cells of the intestinal villi.


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