title: Activated mast cells produce interleukin 13.
abstract: When mast cells are activated through their immunoglobulin (Ig)E receptors, release of low molecular weight mediators like histamine is followed by secretion of multiple cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-3, IL-4, IL-5, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Here we report that stimulated mast cells also synthesize IL-13 mRNA and protein; secretion of this cytokine may be of particular importance because of its ability to stimulate IgE expression. IL-13 transcripts detected by a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-mediated polymerase chain reaction assay were induced within 30 min after stimulation of mast cells by dinitrophenyl plus monoclonal IgE anti-dinitrophenyl, and peaked at about 1 h. Within 3 h of IgE stimulation, secreted IL-13 bioactivity, estimated by proliferation of an IL-13-dependent cell line, reached levels equivalent to 1-2 ng/ml of IL-13. When added to human B lymphocytes, the mast cell-derived IL-13 activity (like bone fide IL-13) induced Ig C epsilon transcripts, DNA recombination characteristic of the isotype switch to C epsilon, and the secretion of IgE protein. These results suggest a model of local positive feedback interactions between mast cells and B cells, which could play a role in the pathogenesis of atopy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland 20592, USA.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Burd
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Max
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000276:immunology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D018793:Interleukin-13; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000001:Calcimycin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate