title: Inhibition of human mast cell growth and differentiation by interferon gamma-1b.
abstract: In an effort to identify cytokines that inhibit human mast cell growth, we cultured HMC-1 cells and recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF)-dependent human bone marrow-derived mast cells (HBMCs) in the presence of interferon gamma (IFNgamma)-1b and interferon alpha (IFNalpha)-2b. HMC-1 cell numbers decreased in the presence of 1000 U/mL IFNgamma-1b but were unaffected by 1000 U/mL of IFNalpha-2b. HBMCs were then cultured for 0 to 7 days with 100 ng/mL rhSCF and 10 ng/mL recombinant human IL-3 (rhIL-3), followed by culture in rhSCF and administration of either 1000 U/mL IFNalpha-2b or 1000 U/mL IFNgamma-1b. HBMCs appearing in cultures with rhSCF alone or in combination with IFNalpha-2b were virtually identical in number through 8 weeks of culture. In cultures supplemented with IFNgamma-1b, HBMCs significantly decreased in number and incidence of granular metachromasia by 4 to 5 weeks (p<0.001). Similar results were obtained when human marrow was cultured from day 0 with rhSCF and IFNgamma-1b. Mature rhSCF-dependent HBMCs were also cultured at 5 weeks with rhSCF alone or in combination with IFNgamma-1b. Compared with cells cultured in rhSCF, mature 5-week HBMC cultures treated with rhSCF plus IFNgamma-1b revealed a decrease in mast cells, and those mast cells that remained had fewer toluidine blue- and tryptase-positive granules after 5 to 8 weeks. FACS analysis of rhSCF plus IFNgamma-1b-treated mature HBMCs revealed increased c-kit and Fc(epsilon)RI expression. Mast cell releasibility was not increased. IFNgamma-lb was thus able to suppress mast cell growth from CD34+ cells, suggesting that this agent should be considered as a candidate cytokine for the treatment of disorders of mast cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1881, USA.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kirshenbaum
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Worobec
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Goff
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Semere
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Metcalfe
mesh_terms: D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D053818:Chymases; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D053802:Tryptases; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C083294:chymase 2; D053818:Chymases; D053802:Tryptases