Mast cell heterogeneity in the gastrointestinal tract: variable expression of mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1) in intraepithelial mucosal mast cells in nematode-infected and normal BALB/c mice.
Soluble granule chymases in rodent intestinal mucosal mast cells (IMMCs) may play an important role in altering epithelial permeability during immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Using a monoclonal antibody against the chymase mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1), we have shown that it is constitutively expressed in < or = 20% of esterase-positive (esterase+) IMMCs but not in esterase+ gastric mucosal mast cells (GMMCs) in normal BALB/c mice. Intestinal infection with mouse- or rat-adapted strains of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis resulted in IMMC hyperplasia with 100% of esterase+ IMMCs expressing mMCP-1. In contrast, there was a variable response in terms of numbers of GMMCs and of the proportion expressing mMCP-1. Esterase+ mast cells in the gastric submucosa, muscularis, ear pinna, lung parenchyma, major airway submucosa, and peritoneal cavity did not express mMCP-1. The few airway esterase+ mast cells expressing mMCP-1 were, like the great majority of IMMCs and GMMCs, located intraepithelially. In conclusion, mMCP-1 is predominantly expressed by intraepithelial mucosal mast cells but not in all sites; the immunological stimulus associated with intestinal nematodiasis substantially up-regulates mMCP-1 expression by mast cells in the jejunum but not in the stomach; IMMCs and GMMCs in BALB/c mice are phenotypically and possibly functionally distinct.
Scudamore
C L
CL
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom.
McMillan
L
L
Thornton
E M
EM
Wright
S H
SH
Newlands
G F
GF
Miller
H R
HR
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D053818:Chymases; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004950:Esterases / Q000737:chemistry; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009559:Nippostrongylus; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004950:Esterases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053818:Chymases; C509230:Mcpt1 protein, mouse; C509231:Mcpt1 protein, rat