Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P15088 (mast cell)
 14,925 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a potent inhibitor of cytokine (IL-2-IL-6, IFN gamma) production by CD4+ T lymphocytes stimulated via the T cell antigen receptor pathway. This action results in indirect inhibitory effects on the growth and differentiation of B lymphocytes (IL-4 and IL-6). Using experimental models, it has also been shown that the functional activities of mononuclear phagocytes (IFN-gamma) and other antigen-presenting cells, production of mast cells (IL-3) and eosinophils (IL-5) and the activity of natural killer (NK) cells may be inhibited indirectly by CsA. In addition, however, CsA blocks B cell responses to Ca(2+)-dependent signals (e.g., anti-IgM) downstream of phosphatidyl inositol diphosphate hydrolysis; Ca(2+)-independent responses (e.g., to LPS or IL-4) are largely unaffected. In general terms, the functions of macrophages are unchanged or reduced in the presence of CsA. These include phagocytic activity in vitro and in vivo, chemotactic migration, superoxide and H2O2 production, protein (including monokine) secretion and MHC gene product expression. Antigen presentation (e.g., by epidermal Langerhans cells) may be affected, especially at high drug concentrations. There is recent evidence that CsA inhibits mediator (histamine and prostaglandin) release from human mast cells and that mucosal mast cell numbers may be diminished in CsA-treated animals exhibiting graft-versus-host disease or helminth infections.
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PMID:The effects of cyclosporin A on non-T cell components of the immune system. 150 9

There is growing interest in studying pathways of mast cell activation. In a mouse model of chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD) extensive mast cell activation and degranulation occurs in vivo coincident with the development of dermal fibrosis. An interesting feature of this model is that the mast cell reaction is slow to develop, occurring over a period of weeks and waning by 300 days. The aim of our work was to investigate the effects of supernatants from splenocytes of such cGVHD mice (cGVHD sups) on mouse and rat peritoneal mast cells cocultured with 3T3 skin fibroblasts. We found that cGVHD sups are able to release histamine from both mouse and rat cultured mast cells in a slow fashion. Histamine release became evident only after 5-8 days of coculture of the mast cells with the cGVHD supernatants and thereafter decreased to basal levels. Mast cell activation due to cGVHD supernatants was a noncytotoxic event as demonstrated by mast cell counts in the cocultures and by the ability of mast cells to exclude trypan blue. Mast cells that had been activated by incubation with the cGVHD sups were as responsive to stimulation with either anti-IgE antibodies or compound 48/80 as were mast cells incubated with control sups. Supernatants from mice early in GVHD (Days 11-28) were most active in promoting histamine release. Supernatants from spleens of mice which had GVHD for 290 days and where the mast cells had returned to full granulation in vivo were inactive. This is the first in vitro study demonstrating slow mast cell histamine release instituted by other cells, namely the splenocytes of cGVHD mice.
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PMID:Histamine release from mouse and rat mast cells cultured with supernatants from chronic murine graft-vs-host splenocytes. 169 Jun 7

Mast cells are being recognized as important constituents in fibrotic processes. This article reviews the evidence for increased mast cell numbers and/or function in a variety of fibrotic conditions. Increased mast cell numbers and activity are seen in chronic murine graft-versus-host disease (a model for scleroderma) and in active scleroderma itself. An integrated schema for scleroderma is presented, emphasizing the interactions among mast cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts mediated by heparin and heparin-binding growth factors.
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PMID:Mast cells and fibrosis. The relevance to scleroderma. 240 4

Serum samples were collected from eight recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT) following the normalization of peripheral blood counts. Three patients (11 samples) were in the early engraftment period (less than 6 months post-BMT) and still receiving cyclosporin A or methotrexate and the remaining five patients (18 samples) were in stable engraftment (12-84 months post-BMT) and not on immunosuppressive therapy. All post-BMT serum samples supported the growth of increased numbers of mast cell colonies in long-term agar cultures when compared with normal controls (p less than 0.025-0.005), irrespective of the time from BMT or the presence of clinical graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In contrast, the numbers of neutrophil, monocyte and eosinophil colonies were equivalent in test and control groups. It is proposed that post-BMT sera contain higher levels of a mast cell stimulating activity(s) than does normal sera. Such increased levels might be associated with clinical or subclinical GVHD.
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PMID:Post bone marrow transplant sera and persisting mast cell colonies. 304 72

Mast cells are in close contact with other cells in neurofibromatosis, e.g. neural cells and fibroblasts. Secretory products of mast cells may be important in the regulation of collagen synthesis by fibroblasts and Schwann cells. Newer methods of detecting mast cells by avidin staining of granules and localization of membrane Fc receptors for IgE have been exploited in at least one experimental model of fibrosis (murine chronic graft-versus-host disease). Such approaches should help in understanding parameters involved in modulation of cell growth in neurofibromas. Future directions for the study of cellular dynamics in neurofibromas should include detection of activated (degranulated) mast cells, Schwann cells and effects of mast cell products on collagen gene expression.
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PMID:Mast cells and neurofibromatosis. 315 31

There are both similarities and differences between chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and scleroderma. The similarities include chronic fibrosis, immunological (autoimmune) abnormalities and perhaps mast cell involvement. The differences include the type of collagen laid down and its precise location, and the distribution of organ involvement. However, a common thread appears to be an immunologically-mediated fibrotic process, involving T cells, fibroblasts and perhaps mast cells. For this reason, we believe that important insights for scleroderma will come from the study of GVHD, in spite of the differences between the two syndromes. Indeed, it would not be expected that GVHD and scleroderma would be identical.
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PMID:Is graft-versus-host disease a reliable model for scleroderma? 357 48

A murine model of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was induced across minor histocompatibility barriers. This was done by injecting B10.D2 (H-2d) spleen cells into irradiated BALB/c (H-2d) mice. Chronic GVHD in this model includes features common to human idiopathic scleroderma, such as dermal fibrosis, loss of dermal fat and appendages, and a mononuclear cell filtrate. Serial skin biopsies showed a progressive loss of stainable mast cells in GVHD but not in irradiated controls. Mast cell depletion was noted as well in the tongue and kidney capsule of GVHD mice. Mast cell depletion was noted as early as 11 days after GVHD induction and persisted for at least 56 days. A hypothesis is put forth linking the T-cell activation of GVHD, mast cell degranulation, and increased fibrosis. The pertinence of this hypothesis to idiopathic scleroderma is pointed out.
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PMID:Mast cell depletion in murine chronic graft-versus-host disease. 398 Oct 34

We explored the pathologic changes in the skin of mice undergoing a chronic graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction. In rodents and in man, chronic GVH includes the deposition of excess collagen in the skin-a reaction which resembles idiopathic scleroderma. GVH disease across minor histocompatibility barriers was produced by injecting B10.D2 cells into irradiated BALB/c mice. These strains are identical at the H-2 and Mls loci but differ in minor histocompatibility antigens. Control BALB/c mice received irradiation and BALB/c cells. Serial skin biopsies were taken and studied for histological changes characteristic of chronic GVHD, for mast cell density, and for the deposition of immunoreactants. GVHD was produced in B10.D2----BALB/c mice as measured by body weight loss and the production of skin changes including dermal fibrosis, loss of fat and appendages, and a mononuclear cell infiltrate. Dermal mast cells, assessed by toluidine blue staining, were normal at Day 11, but had disappeared by Days 21-63 and returned to normal by Day 104. Immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, and IgM appeared at the dermo-epidermal junction and along the basement membrane zone of hair follicles. This deposition was maximal at Day 42 and waned thereafter. Thus the appearance of immunoglobulins in the skin was maximal when mast cell staining was minimal. The changes in this GVHD model leading to a scleroderma-like picture in the skin are compatible with an immune etiology for the fibrosis. Vasodilation following liberation of mast cell mediators would facilitate the deposition of immunoglobulins. The disappearance of mast cell staining may be caused by extensive degranulation. We postulate an interaction between GVHD-activated T cells, mast cell stimulation, fibroblast activation, and fibrosis.
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PMID:Chronic graft-versus-host disease as a model for scleroderma. II. Mast cell depletion with deposition of immunoglobulins in the skin and fibrosis. 401 62

The skin is a major target organ for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), the principal complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The purpose of the present study was to test whether mast cell degranulation might be related to early target cell injury in the development of acute GVHD. We employed two irradiated murine strain combinations, one in which disease was mediated by CD4+ effector T cells (B10.D2-->DBA/2), and the other by CD8+ effector T cells (B10.BR-->CBA). As compared to controls, both models exhibited mast cell degranulation of differing extents and patterns, as well as dyskeratosis in the epidermis before the influx of effector lymphocytes. These results suggested that factors produced and released by degranulated dermal mast cells might contribute to early target cell injury. Accordingly, the possible role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a cytokine recently discovered in mast cell granules, was investigated by the injection of anti-TNF-alpha antibody during the course of disease mediated by either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. Although overall survival of recipients undergoing CD4+ T-cell-mediated GVHD was only slightly improved and the extent of mast cell degranulation was not affected by anti-TNF-alpha antibody treatment, the skin exhibited a significant diminution in the number of dyskeratotic cells/linear mm at 3-4 weeks post-transplantation. In contrast, anti-TNF-alpha antibody failed to enhance survival or reduce the number of dyskeratotic cells in the skin during CD8+ T-cell-mediated disease. Finally, to determine whether CD8+ T-cell-mediated GVHD was at all dependent upon mast cell involvement, the C3H.SW-->B6WWv strain combination was utilized, in which recipients were genetically deficient in mast cells. Onset of GVHD was significantly delayed in B6WWv mice and was clearly correlated to the appearance and increase of de novo mast cells at later time points.
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PMID:Role of mast cells in early epithelial target cell injury in experimental acute graft-versus-host disease. 790 82

The effect of dermal application of halofuginone-an inhibitor of collagen type I synthesis-on skin collagen and collagen alpha1(I) gene expression in an animal model of scleroderma and chronic graft versus host disease (cGvHD) was evaluated. Halofuginone-containing cream was applied on the tight-skin mouse (Tsk) and skin biopsies were taken for collagen staining by sirius red and for collagen alpha1(I) gene expression by in situ hybridization. In addition, cell proliferation was evaluated by immunostaining for proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) alone or in combination with collagen alpha1(I) probe. The number of mast cells was assessed by toluidine blue. Dermal application of halofuginone (0.01%) for 60 days was as good as systemic administration (1 microg/mouse/day) in reducing collagen alpha1(I) gene expression in skin biopsy and almost as good in reducing skin width. Halofuginone was stable and effective only at acidic pH. The effect of halofuginone (0.03%) was time-dependent. After 40 days of daily treatment, a significant reduction in the collagen alpha1(I) gene expression was observed and further decrease was observed after 60 days. The reduction in collagen alpha1(I) gene expression and the reduction in the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts probably occur in the same subset of cells. No effect of halofuginone on the proliferation of keratinocytes or on mast cell number was observed. These results suggest that target-oriented application of halofuginone may become a novel therapy for fibrotic disorders in general and for scleroderma in particular.
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PMID:Reduction in dermal fibrosis in the tight-skin (Tsk) mouse after local application of halofuginone. 1170 55


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