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Query: UNIPROT:P10721 (c-kit)
 6,575 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Mast cells (MC) play a central role in extrinsic allergic reactions such as asthma and may participate in other inflammatory and fibrotic processes. However, with the exception of immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor-dependent stimulation, no secretagogues of human lung MC have yet been described. It is also unclear whether mediator release can be regulated by certain cytokines as demonstrated previously in basophils and other human inflammatory effector cells. Here, we show that the c-kit ligand (KL), a recently identified stem cell growth factor, at concentrations 10-100 times lower than that required to promote cell proliferation, enhances the release of histamine and leukotriene C4 in response to IgE receptor crosslinking of human lung MC. KL does not induce mediator release per se, but increases the sensitivity of MC to anti-IgE receptor stimulation and also enhances mediator release to maximally effective concentrations of anti-IgE receptor antibody. By contrast, a large number of cytokines examined, including the mast cell growth factors/agonists in rodents, interleukin 3 (IL-3), IL-4, IL-9, and nerve growth factor, were ineffective in this respect. These findings suggest a unique role of KL in regulating effector functions of human mucosal MC.
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PMID:c-kit ligand: a unique potentiator of mediator release by human lung mast cells. 137 May 29

Human tumors can constitutively express cytokines and growth factors, but the extent of this expression has not been investigated. Using 44 different probes to cytokines, growth factors, and their receptors, we tested 21 melanoma and 5 melanocyte cultures for RNA transcript expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. With 30 amplification cycles, expression of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), IL-7, gro alpha, IL-8 and the p35 chain of IL-12 was detected in more than 60% of melanomas. Concomitant receptors for IL-6 and IL-7 were also detected. IL-1 alpha, IL-5, Rantes, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-beta, tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, G-colony-stimulating factor (CSF) and GM-CSF were expressed at lower levels. Melanocytes showed greatly reduced cytokine RNA transcripts, and only gro alpha was consistently detected. No expression of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-9, the p40 chain of IL-12, IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma RNA transcripts was detected in melanomas or melanocytes. The growth factors expressed by melanomas and, after further signal amplification, by melanocytes were transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF), TGF-beta, endothelial-cell growth factor (ECGF), basic-fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and steel. The receptors EGFR, FGFR, NGFRp70 and c-kit were also expressed by melanomas and melanocytes. These results point to new possible autocrine and paracrine pathways in melanoma biology.
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PMID:Expression of cytokine/growth factors and their receptors in human melanoma and melanocytes. 750 78

Mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) developed with IL-3 generate prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) through the utilization of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGHS)-1 within several minutes of cross-linking the high affinity Fc receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) by hapten-specific IgE and Ag. We now report that this immediate generation of PGD2 is followed by a 15-fold induction of steady-state transcripts for PGHS-2, with a maximum at 30 min, accompanied by transient expression of PGHS-2 protein. When BMMC were pretreated with c-kit ligand (KL) in combination with IL-10 for 2 h, sensitized with IgE, and activated with Ag, their expression of steady-state transcripts for PGHS-2 increased 111-fold and their expression of PGHS-2 protein was markedly enhanced, with maximal expression at 1 h and 5 h, respectively, after activation. These events were accompanied by PGD2 generation from 1 to 10 h after activation that accounted for approximately 50% of total PGD2 generation. The expression of PGHS-1 protein did not change during this period. The optimal priming interval for the effect of KL plus IL-10 on the IgE-dependent induction of PGHS-2 was 2 h, at which time only this particular cytokine combination acted synergistically with activation by IgE and Ag. In contrast, at 2 days the accessory cytokines that could provide priming with KL included IL-3 and IL-9 in addition to IL-10. Dexamethasone, which inhibited the expression of PGHS-2 but not PGHS-1, and NS-398, a selective inhibitor of PGHS-2, each suppressed the delayed phase but not the immediate phase of PGD2 generation. Conversely, valeryl salicylate, a selective inhibitor of PGHS-1, suppressed the immediate but not the delayed phase of PGD2 generation after cell priming and IgE-dependent activation.
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PMID:IgE-dependent activation of cytokine-primed mouse cultured mast cells induces a delayed phase of prostaglandin D2 generation via prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2. 759 6

We have tested the histamine releasing properties and priming abilities of a wide range of recombinant or purified cytokines and growth factors on the basophils of 20 subjects (10 atopic and 10 nonatopic). We found that monocyte chemotactic and activating factor/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCAF/MCP-1), RANTES, human macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha and human inflammatory protein-1 beta, Connective tissue activating peptide III and Neutrophil Activating Peptide-2 (NAP-2) cause histamine release from basophils and are all members of the intercrine/chemokine family. MCAF/MCP-1 was as potent as anti-IgE or C5a and it is clearly the major contributor to histamine releasing factor activity. RANTES was the second major histamine releasing factor among the positive cytokines. Both MCAF/MCP-1 and RANTES are present in conditioned mononuclear cell media and can be separated using Mono Q anion exchange chromatography. We also demonstrated that RANTES has unusual chromatographic properties in spite of its isoelectric point of > 9.0 because it is largely found in peak-2 of the Mono Q column rather than peak-1 in which intercrines such as MCAF/MCP-1, IL-8, and connective tissue activating peptide III are found. All other cytokines and growth factors tested were negative, with the exception of IL-3, which caused histamine release in a subpopulation of subjects, and also primed basophils for release by anti-IgE. Other basophil primers for anti-IgE-dependent histamine release were IL-5, mast cell growth factor (c-kit ligand), and insulin-like growth factor II. Using specific neutralizing antibodies we have shown that MCAF/MCP-1, RANTES, and IL-3 contribute significantly to the activity found in mononuclear cell culture supernatants. Granulocyte-macrophage-CSF, IP-10, I-309, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IgE-binding factor, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta 1, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and endothelial cell growth factor were negative for direct histamine release and as primers of basophils. Our results indicate that cytokines belonging to the intercrine/chemokine family are major constituents of the activity known as "histamine releasing factor" found in MNC supernatants.
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PMID:Characterization of the human basophil response to cytokines, growth factors, and histamine releasing factors of the intercrine/chemokine family. 767 99

In both murine and human systems the c-kit ligand, also known as mast cell growth factor (MGF), acts synergistically with several colony stimulating factors, including the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 3 (IL-3), in stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of different types of hematopoietic progenitors. In addition, MGF is also known to enhance the effects of GM-CSF and IL-3 on the in vitro proliferative activity of myeloid leukemic cells. MGF synergizes with a number of other cytokines such as GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-9 in sustaining the proliferation of growth factor dependent M-07e cells. In order to explore the molecular basis of this synergistic activity and to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of c-kit expression, we investigated the effects of GM-CSF, IL-3 and MGF on c-kit mRNA and protein levels in M-07e cells. GM-CSF, unlike MGF and IL-3, induced a transient but significant increase of c-kit mRNA levels. Moreover, following MGF and GM-CSF treatment, c-kit protein expression in M-07e cells decreased, whereas all the other cytokines tested are unable to modulate c-kit protein. These data together with the results of protein turnover analysis suggest that MGF and GM-CSF regulate c-kit expression at the post-transcriptional level. In addition, the finding that IL-3 has no detectable effect on c-kit expression raises the possibility that GM-CSF-induced c-kit regulation is not mediated by the common signal transducing element: the beta subunit of the IL-3/GM-CSF receptor complex.
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PMID:Regulation of c-kit expression in human myeloid cells. 769 27

We have established nurse cell-like clones from long-term cultures of the human skin. These human skin nurse cell (HSNC)-like clones were type I collagen+, type IV collagen-, vimentin+, cytokeratin-, CD44+, CD54+, and weakly positive for VCAM-1, and easily identified by the pseudoemperipolesis that allowed T lymphocytes to migrate beneath the HSNCs. HSNCs and various T cell lines formed a typical complex in the hanging drop culture system. The majority of human and murine T cells, and some of the tumor cell lines other than T cells, including B lymphoma and myeloblastoma cells, migrated beneath the HSNC clones. HSNC clones produced various cytokines, including IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, granulocyte CSF (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), macrophage CSF (CSF-1), TGF-beta 1, and c-kit ligand, but could not produce IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, TNF-alpha, or TNF-beta. These characteristics were similar to those of nurse cells established from the murine thymus. Furthermore, IFN-gamma-pretreated HSNC clones that expressed MHC class II Ags induced autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) in autologous PBMCs to proliferate and exhibit the cytotoxicity against altered autologous cells and various tumor cells. These results suggest that HSNCs play an important role in the immunoregulation at skin tissues.
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PMID:Establishment and characterization of nurse cell-like clones from human skin. Nurse cell-like clones can stimulate autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction. 808 78

The interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor gamma chain is indispensable for IL-2-, IL-4-, IL-7-, IL-9-, and IL-15-mediated signaling. Mutations of the human gamma chain cause the X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID), showing that T and natural killer cells absolutely require the gamma chain for their development in humans. To elucidate the roles of the gamma chain in hematopoiesis, we have generated mice, by gene targeting, that express a form of the gamma chain lacking the cytoplasmic region. Male mice carrying the truncated gamma-chain mutant, which mimics mutations in patients with XSCID, showed a decrease in the number of lymphocytes and an increase in monocytes; the number of T cells was profoundly reduced and no natural killer cells were detected, which is similar to the characteristic of human XSCID. Unlike human XSCID, the levels of B cells were also reduced. In spite of the severe decrease in CD45R+/sIgM+ B cells, the level of IgM in serum of the 8-week-old mutant mice was higher than that of control littermates. Interestingly, the stem cell population with surface phenotypes of CD34, c-kit, and Sca-1 was significantly increased. Furthermore, the colony-forming assay showed that the mutant mice had 15-fold higher numbers of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the spleen as compared with that of controls. These results indicate that functional loss of the gamma chain causes significant effects on the immunological system in mice.
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PMID:Modulation of hematopoiesis in mice with a truncated mutant of the interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain. 856 67

We investigated the effects of stem cell factor (SCF) on the growth of blast clonogenic cells from 27 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and 3 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia in myeloid crisis. SCF alone showed a significant stimulatory activity in 15 of 30 patients (50%). A marked reduction in the number of blast cell colonies supported by SCF alone was noted by the addition of neutralizing antibody (Ab) against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Ab against interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) also moderately reduced the number of colonies, whereas Ab against granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) failed to do so. All four Ab together completely abolished the growth in 5 of 6 patients tested. c-kit antisense oligonucleotides reduced the colony formation supported by IL-3 or G-CSF or, in the absence of growth factor, in only 2 of 10 patients tested. SCF caused stimulation by acting synergistically with G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-6, IL-9, IL-11, and IL-12 in 20 of 27 (74%), 17 of 27 (63%), 14 of 28 (50%), 9 of 28 (32%), 1 of 15 (7%), 3 of 28 (11%), and 2 of 15 (13%) patients, respectively. Thus, SCF alone or in combination with some other factor stimulated the growth in 27 of 30 (90%) patients. Of 3 nonresponders, 2 were AML, M3 at presentation. G-CSF at the optimal concentration increased the sensitivity of blasts to SCF. Taken together, SCF acting in combination with other factors, but not alone, stimulates the growth of blast clonogenic cells. GM-CSF, IL-6, and TNF-alpha may be produced endogenously, whereas G-CSF and SCF may be supplied exogenously. Autocrine regulation of the growth of blasts seems to increase the responsiveness of the cells to any of these factors, allowing them to achieve a highly active growth state.
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PMID:Roles of stem cell factor in the in vitro growth of blast clonogenic cells from patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. 856 3

Murine studies have demonstrated that, as with other nematodes, infection with the intestinal nematode Trichinella spiralis is associated with a pronounced intestinal mastocytosis, eosinophilia and an elevation in serum levels of total IgE. Both interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 are clearly important in the generation of IgE responses and eosinophilia, respectively, but the control of mucosal mastocytosis in vivo is not as well defined. Mucosal mast cells appear to be particularly important with regard to T. spiralis infections as there is good evidence to suggest their involvement in expulsion of the parasite from the host. In this study we examined the effect of the overproduction of the Th2 cytokine IL-9 on infection with this nematode. We demonstrate that naive IL-9-transgenic mice have an intense intestinal mastocytosis and high serum levels of mouse mast cell protease-1. Moreover, upon infection high titers of parasite-specific IgG1 were observed with a heightened mast cell response, which was associated with the rapid expulsion of T. spiralis from the gut. Furthermore, as depression of this mast cell response, using anti-c-kit antibodies, resulted in the inability of these mice to expel the parasite, this study clearly demonstrates an activity of IL-9 on mucosal mastocytosis and the host protective immune response in vivo.
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PMID:Interleukin-9 is involved in host protective immunity to intestinal nematode infection. 936 7

Here we review our recent data addressing the role of recombinant human (rh) interleukin 9 (IL-9) in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). We first evaluated the proliferative response of 3 leukemic cell lines and 32 primary samples from AML patients to IL-9 alone and combined with rh-IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF, c-kit ligand). The colony forming ability of leukemic cells was assessed by a clonogenic assay in methylcellulose, whereas the cell cycle characteristics of the same samples were determined by the acridine-orange (AO) flow cytometric technique and the bromodeoxyuridine (BRDU) incorporation assay. In addition, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase Assay (TDTA) and standard analysis of DNA cleavage by gel electrophoresis were used to evaluate induction or prevention of apoptosis by IL-9. IL-9, used as a single cytokine, at various concentrations stimulated the colony formation of the 3 myeloid cell lines under serum-containing and serum-free conditions and this effect was completely abrogated by anti-IL-9 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). When tested on fresh AML samples, optimal concentrations of IL-9 resulted in the increase of the blast colony formation in all the cases studied and was the most effective CSF for promoting leukemic cell growth among those tested in this study including SCF, IL-3, and GM-CSF. The addition of SCF to IL-9 demonstrated an additive or synergistic effect of the 2 cytokines in 5 out of 8 AML cases tested for their CFU-L growth (187 +/- 79 colonies in comparison with 107 +/- 32 CFU-L; p = 0.05). Positive interaction was also observed when IL-9 was combined with IL-3 and GM-CSF. Studies of cell cycle distribution of AML samples demonstrated that IL-9 alone significantly augmented the number of leukemic cells in S-phase in the majority of the cases evaluated. IL-9 and SCF in combination resulted in a remarkable decrease of the G0 cell fraction (38.2 +/- 24% compared to 58.6 +/- 22% of control cultures; p < 0.05) and induced an increase of G1 and S-phase cells. Conversely, neither IL-9 alone nor the combination of IL-9 and SCF had any effect on induction or prevention of apoptosis of leukemic cells. Furthermore, in this study, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification (RT-PCR) did not show the constitutive expression of IL-9 mRNA in the cell lines and the AML samples studied at diagnosis. In summary, IL-9 may play a role in the development of acute myeloid leukemia by stimulating the proliferation of leukemic cells perhaps through a paracrine growth loop.
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PMID:Interleukin-9 in human myeloid leukemia cells. 938 63


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