Brain mast cells lack the c-kit receptor: immunocytochemical evidence.
Mast cells are reported to differ from other cells of the hematopoietic lineage in that as mature cells, they retain the c-kit receptor, and are thus capable of responding to the stem cell factor (SCF) ligand. SCF is important for development and survival of mast cells. In this study, c-kit expression was examined immunocytochemically in the brains of mice, rats and doves. The results indicate that brain mast cells lack the c-kit receptor; those of the leptomeninges and other connective tissues are a mixed population of c-kit positive and negative cells. The mechanisms whereby brain mast cells might survive in the absence of SCF-c-kit signaling are discussed.
Shanas
U
U
Department of Psychology at Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Bhasin
R
R
Sutherland
A K
AK
Silverman
A J
AJ
Silver
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D010856:Columbidae; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D008578:Meninges / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D014059:Tongue / Q000737:chemistry
D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit