The accumulation of mast cells is characteristic of a number of pathological states. We demonstrate here the directional motility of mast cells in vitro in response to tumor-derived peptides. Rat peritoneal mast cells were isolated on Percoll gradients and maintained in serum-free medium containing transferrin, albumin, soybean lipid, and cholesterol. The isolated mast cells migrated under agar...

In an attempt to obtain an antiserum that would bring about widespread destruction of mast cells in the rat, rabbits were immunized with mast cells isolated from the peritoneal cavities of rats. Striking evidence of anti-mast cell activity was indicated in vivo by mast cell disruption and in vitro by positive interfacial precipitin tests of the serum from rabbits so treated. The time course of ...

Mast cells contain an enzyme which hydrolyzes 3-chloroacetoxy-2-naphthoic acid anilide. By using highly purified mast cells isolated by differential centrifugation in high density sucrose solutions we have been able to study this enzymatic activity in more detail. The enzyme has properties similar to those of chymotrypsin: Chymotrypsin will hydrolyze the histochemical substrate, and the chymotr...

Matsumoto I, Inoue Y, Shimada T, Matsunaga T, Aikawa T. Stimulation of brain mast cells by compound 48/80, a histamine liberator, evokes renin and vasopressin release in dogs. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 294: R689–R698, 2008. First published January 9, 2008; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00453.2007.—Because degranulation of brain mast cells activates adrenocortical secretion (41, 42), we exami...

Mast cells are known to have a detrimental impact on a variety of pathological conditions. There is therefore an urgent need of developing strategies that limit their harmful effects. The aim of this study was to accomplish this by developing a means of inducing mast cell apoptosis. The strategy was to identify novel compounds that induce mast cell apoptosis by permeabilization of their secreto...

We previously reported that mast cells express renin, the rate-limiting enzyme in the renin-angiotensin cascade. We have now assessed whether mast cell renin release triggers angiotensin formation in the airway. In isolated rat bronchial rings, mast cell degranulation released enzyme with angiotensin I-forming activity blocked by the selective renin inhibitor BILA2157. Local generation of angio...

Abstract Background Numerous disorders can cause recurrent abdominal pain. Many of these cases underwent endoscopy and clinician encounters patients with history of recurrent abdominal pain and normal endoscopy. We evaluated these biopsies with regard to their eosinophils and mast cell densities to find out a potential relationship between recurrent abdominal pain with eosinophils and mast ce...

We investigated whether adenosine, a potent contributor to the regulation of pulmonary function, can modulate human lung mast cell (HLMC) fibrinolytic activity. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity and tPA transcript expression levels from a human mast cell line (HMC-1) and HLMC were monitored following adenosine application. Adenosine potentiated mast cell tPA activity and tPA gene expr...

BACKGROUND Immunoglobulin E (IgE) binds to high affinity receptor FcεRI numerously expressed on mast cells. Recent findings have revealed that IgE by itself may regulate various aspects of mast cell biology, however, detailed data is still limited. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS Here, we have examined the influence of IgE alone, used at different concentrations, on mast cell activity and releasability....

Mast cells are critical immune effectors abundant in tissues interfacing with the environment and have major roles in allergen-induced inflammation and host responses to infection. SCF is a regulator of mast cell function and growth. However, the critical mechanisms in SCF-directed events remain incompletely defined. Here, we have investigated the role of MKK3 in mast cell SCF signaling-depende...