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Query: UNIPROT:P15088 (mast cell)
 14,925 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Changes in the density and distribution of pulmonary mast cells were determined in six mammalian species exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (PB = 435 Torr) for 19-48 days. Control animals were studied at 1,600 m (PB = 635 Torr). Total lung mast cell hyperplasia was observed only in calves exposed to high altitude. Pigs, rats, and sheep exhibited small, but insignificant, increases in mast cell density. Perivascular mast cell proliferation adjacent to vessels of 30-500 mum in diameter was seen in both calves and pigs. Bronchial, alveolar septal, and systemic tissue (tongue) mast cell hyperplasia was not observed in any of the species. Three indices of pulmonary hypertension (right ventricular hypertrophy, medial thickness of pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary arterial pressure) correlated with perivascular mast cell density. The findings indicate that perivascular mast cell proliferation may relate more to the morphological pulmonary vascular changes and to pulmonary hypertension than to hypoxia, leading to the speculation that mast cells increase in number in response to the hypertension, rather than to mediate and maintain the hypertension.
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PMID:Lung mast cell density and distribution in chronically hypoxic animals. 13 66

Exposure to acute hypoxia (barometric pressure 263 mmHg) for 8 hours did not lead to increased numbers of mast cells in the lungs of rats. In contrast, in adult rats kept for 35 days at a barometric pressure of 380 mmHg there was a proliferation of mast cells around the pulmonary blood vessels and in the alveolar septa. This hyperplasia of lung mast cells in response to chronic hypoxia was reversible on removal of the hypoxic stimulus. There was a correlation between the logarithm of the perivascular lung mast cell density (defined in the paper) and the logarithm of the right ventricular weight. There was no increase in the mast cells in the carotid bodies of the hypoxic rats. Young male, old male, young female, and old female rats which had been subjected for 39 days to a barometric pressure of 380 mmHg showed a proliferation of mast cells around the pulmonary blood vessels and in the alveolar walls. This response was greatest in the adult animals and independent of their sex. In the age and sex experiment there was a correlation between the perivascular lung mast cell density and the medial thickness of the muscular pulmonary arteries. Since mast cell hyperplasia has been reported as preceding right ventricular hypertrophy, it is conceivable that mast cell proliferation in the lung may be a defence mechanism to limit the severity of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension rather than to mediate it.
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PMID:Lung mast cells in rats exposed to acute hypoxia, and chronic hypoxia with recovery. 88 42

Intravascular application of goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin E (IgE) was used to stimulate parenchymal mast cells in situ in perfused rabbit lungs. Sustained pulmonary arterial pressure rise was evoked in the absence of lung vascular permeability increase and lung edema formation. Early prostaglandin (PG) D2 and histamine release into the perfusate was documented, accompanied by more sustained liberation of cysteinyl leukotrienes (LT), LTB4, and PGI2. The quantities of these inflammatory mediators displayed the following order: histamine greater than cysteinyl-LT greater than PGI2 greater than LTB4 greater than PGD2. Pressor response and inflammatory mediator release revealed corresponding bell-shaped dose dependencies. Cyclooxygenase inhibition (acetylsalicylic acid) suppressed prostanoid generation, increased LT release, and did not substantially affect pressor response and histamine liberation. BW755 C, a cyclo- and lipoxygenase inhibitor, blocked the release of cysteinyl-LT and markedly reduced the liberation of the other inflammatory mediators as well as the pressor response. The H1-antagonist clemastine caused a moderate reduction of the anti-IgE-provoked pressure rise. We conclude that intravascular anti-IgE challenge in intact lungs provokes the release of an inflammatory mediator profile compatible with in situ lung parenchymal mast cell activation. Pulmonary hypertension represents the predominant vascular response, presumably mediated by cysteinyl-LT and, to a minor extent, histamine liberation.
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PMID:Intravascular anti-IgE challenge in perfused lungs: mediator release and vascular pressor response. 172 6

Recently, there has been considerable interest generated in the possible importance of magnesium ions (Mg2+) in the regulation of bronchial smooth muscle tone and pulmonary vascular tone. These factors have aroused interest in the possible utilization of Mg salts in the treatment of lung diseases (e.g., asthma, allergies, and pulmonary hypertension). Evidence is reviewed which indicates that Mg2+ can influence bronchial vasomotor tone, both indirectly and directly, as well as pulmonary vascular muscle contractility, mast cell granulation and neurohumoral mediator release. In addition, new experimental data suggest that Mg2+ influences a variety of lung structures and chemicals (e.g., capillary endothelial cell integrity, number of type II epithelial cells, surfactant, etc.). Surprisingly, pulmonary arterial muscle cells have a lower Mg content compared to other types of blood vessels and the myocardium, which might point to the vulnerability of the lung vasculature to lower than normal dietary intake of Mg. Several clinical reports point to the salutary actions of Mg2+ in asthma and asthma-like conditions. Very recent experimental findings in rats indicate that Mg2+ treatment can prevent development of experimental chemically induced pulmonary hypertension. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction has been reported to be attenuated by Mg2+. Although it is not clear as to whether dietary Mg2+ deficiency plays a role in development of some asthma-like conditions or pulmonary hypertension, Mg salts certainly appear to be potentially useful therapeutic avenues for these conditions and should be thoroughly investigated, both from clinical as well as experimental points of view.
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PMID:Magnesium and the lungs. 307 51

Hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension may be mediated by leukotrienes. Pulmonary mast cells produce leukotrienes, histamine and prostaglandin D2, and degranulate in response to hypoxia. Cromolyn sodium, a mast cell membrane stabilizing agent, may prevent hypoxia-induced mast cell degranulation. To investigate the role of mast cell products in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, we studied the haemodynamic responses to alveolar hypoxia before and during an intravenous infusion of 3-5 mg/min per kg of cromolyn sodium in 6 chronically instrumented, spontaneously breathing lambs. Since there are age-dependent differences in the response of the pulmonary circulation to some mast cell products, we studied the effects of cromolyn sodium on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn (4-7 days) and young lambs (15-18 days). During alveolar hypoxia, mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased by 68% (P less than 0.05) and 59% (P less than 0.05) in the newborn and young lambs, respectively. With alveolar hypoxia during cromolyn sodium infusion, mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased by 71% (P less than 0.05) and 42% (P less than 0.05) in the newborn and young lambs, respectively. Cromolyn sodium did blunt the hypoxia-induced release of histamine into the circulation. Because hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension was not inhibited by cromolyn sodium in either age group, mast cell products are not important mediators of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.
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PMID:Cromolyn sodium does not prevent hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn and young lambs. 314 68

The density of mast cells in various anatomical locations within the lung were measured in a peruvian Andean llama, a Peruvian Andean cow and a sea-level-cow. These densities were determined separately around pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, pulmonary arterioles and venules, in the alveolar septa, and around bronchi. The total mast cell density did not differ significantly between the three animals and there were more periarteriolar and perivenular mast cells in the llama than in either of the two cows. These data do not support the hypothesis that the perivascular mast cell is responsible for initiating the vasopressor response to hypoxia. In fact it can be argued that they actually inhibit this response since a high mast cell density was found in the llama, and animal which does not develop pulmonary hypertension at high altitude.
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PMID:Pulmonary mast cells in cattle and ilamas at high altitude. 728 26

Histamine constricts postcapillary lung vessels and also causes dilatation, site unknown. In chronically hypoxic rats, pulmonary arterioles are muscularized and histamine-containing mast cells increase. We wanted to determine a) whether vasoreactivity to histamine changes in chronic hypoxia; b) whether dilatation is due to H2 receptors; and c) which vessels dilate. We perfused isolated lungs of normal (C) and chronically hypoxic (CH) rats. Histamine was tested during hypoxic vasoconstriction. To examine effects on arteries alone, we raised alveolar (inflation) pressure above outflow pressure; during inflation, pressure/flow (P/Q) lines were measured during normoxia, and hypoxia, and after histamine during continued hypoxia. Dose-related dilatation was seen, which was abolished by cimetidine and enhanced in CH rats. A mast cell-discharging agent, but not exogenous histamine, caused constriction, which was abolished by chlorpheniramine. P/Q lines differed in C and CH rats in a manner which suggests that hypoxia constricts larger "extra-alveolar" vessels in C rats, but mainly muscularized arterioles exposed to alveolar pressure in CH rats. Histamine restored the P/Q line to nearly its normoxic position; it therefore dilated those vessels which constrict in hypoxia in each rat group. It is concluded that histamine has a strong H2 dilator effect, enhanced in chronic hypoxia, which might be an important attenuating factor in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.
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PMID:Histamine induced pulmonary vasodilatation in the rat: site of action and changes in chronic hypoxia. 792 85

Although theophylline has been used in the treatment of lung diseases, particularly bronchial asthma, since the nineteenth century, the mechanisms underlying its effectiveness remained poorly understood until quite recently. The identification of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE)--the enzyme responsible for breaking down cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP within cells--as a target for methylxanthines such as theophylline led to a research effort that has resulted in the characterization of multiple forms of the PDE enzyme and the development of selective inhibitors for some of these forms. Using these drugs, it has been possible to identify the PDE "isoenzymes" in a number of tissues and cells and to demonstrate the functional effects of the inhibition of different PDEs upon these tissues. Studies on the smooth muscle of human airways and pulmonary arteries have identified isoenzyme-selective PDE inhibitors that are effective broncho- and vasorelaxants in vitro, and it is hoped that these agents may be effective in relieving airway obstruction and pulmonary hypertension in patients. In addition, selective inhibitors of certain PDE isoenzymes suppress the proinflammatory functions of a range of immune cells, including the lung mast cell and the alveolar macrophage. Selective inhibitors of PDE isoenzymes are beginning to undergo clinical trials for the treatment of asthma. The advancing understanding of the PDE distribution in the lung and the ever more precise characterization of distinct enzyme proteins should allow the development of site-selective drugs for the treatment of lung diseases, while minimizing the systemic side effects associated with nonselective PDE inhibitors such as theophylline.
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PMID:Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in the human lung. 820 28

Mast cells make and secrete an abundance of peptidases, which are stored in such large amounts in granules that they comprise a high fraction of all cellular protein. Perhaps no other immune cell is so generously endowed with peptidases. For many years after the main peptidases were first described, they were best known as markers of degranulation, for they are released locally in response to mast cell stimulation and can be distributed systemically and detected in blood. The principal peptidases are tryptases, chymases, carboxypeptidase A3, and dipeptidylpeptidase I (cathepsin C). Numerous studies suggest that these enzymes are important and even critical for host defense and homeostasis. Endogenous and allergen or pathogen-associated targets have been identified. Belying the narrow notion of peptidases as proinflammatory, several of the peptidases limit inflammation and toxicity of endogenous peptides and venoms. The peptidases are interdependent, so that absence or inactivity of one enzyme can alter levels and activity of others. Mammalian mast cell peptidases--chymases and tryptases especially--vary remarkably in number, expression, biophysical properties, and specificity, perhaps because they hyper-evolved under pressure from the very pathogens they help to repel. Tryptase and chymase involvement in some pathologies stimulated development of therapeutic inhibitors for use in asthma, lung fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, ulcerative colitis, and cardiovascular diseases. While animal studies support the potential for mast cell peptidase inhibitors to mitigate certain diseases, other studies, as in mice lacking selected peptidases, predict roles in defense against bacteria and parasites and that systemic inactivation may impair host defense.
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PMID:Mast cell peptidases: chameleons of innate immunity and host defense. 2015 78

Left heart disease (LHD) frequently causes lung vascular remodelling and pulmonary hypertension (PH). Yet pharmacological treatment for PH in LHD is lacking and its pathophysiological basis remains obscure. We aimed to identify candidate mechanisms of PH in LHD and to test their relevance and therapeutic potential. In rats, LHD was induced by supracoronary aortic banding. Whole genome microarray analyses were performed, candidate genes were confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blots and functional relevance was tested in vivo by genetic and pharmacological strategies. In lungs of LHD rats, mast cell activation was the most prominently upregulated gene ontology cluster. Mast cell gene upregulation was confirmed at RNA and protein levels and remodelled vessels showed perivascular mast cell accumulations. In LHD rats treated with the mast cell stabiliser ketotifen, or in mast cell deficient Ws/Ws rats, PH and vascular remodelling were largely attenuated. Both strategies also reduced PH and vascular remodelling in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension, suggesting that the role of mast cells extends to non-cardiogenic PH. In PH of different aetiologies, mast cells accumulate around pulmonary blood vessels and contribute to vascular remodelling and PH. Mast cells and mast cell-derived mediators may present promising targets for the treatment of PH.
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PMID:Mast cells promote lung vascular remodelling in pulmonary hypertension. 2163 28


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