In vivo increase of cutaneous mast cells in response to specific mediators and ascaris antigen.
In order to investigate mechanisms underlying the accumulation of connective tissue mast cells in tissues, common chemotactic and growth factors as well as ascaris antigen were injected into the skin of Wistar rats. Only after multiple injections was a significant increase of mast cells observed with a mixture of horse serum, 15%, and L-cell supernatant, 20%, in normal animals and with Ascaris antigen in sensitized animals only. Smaller increases were observed with repeated injections of mitogen-stimulated spleen lymphocyte supernatants, with L-cell supernatants, and with fibroblast growth factor. This delayed accumulation of mast cells and the previously observed inability of mast cells to migrate in vitro would suggest that mast cell precursors immigrate into tissue sites in response to chemotactic factors to differentiate there into mature cells under the influence of specific growth factors.
D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D001200:Ascaris / Q000276:immunology; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003239:Connective Tissue Cells; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D008222:Lymphokines