Cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells produce transforming growth factor beta1.
BACKGROUND
Mast cells frequently accumulate at the site of fibrosis and their contribution has been suspected in the pathogenesis of fibrotic conditions. However, it still remains unknown whether human mast cells synthesize transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1).


OBJECTIVE
We have investigated whether cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells express messenger RNA (mRNA) for TGF-beta and produce bioactive TGF-beta1.


METHODS
Mast cells were obtained by culturing mononuclear cells from cord blood in the presence of stem cell factor and interleukin-6. Expression of mRNA for TGF-beta1 was examined by the method of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunocytochemical staining for TGF-beta and growth-inhibitory assay using Mv1Lu cells were also performed.


RESULTS
The cultured human mast cells constitutively expressed mRNA for TGF-beta1. With calcium ionophore A23187, the intensity of the PCR-amplified band for TGF-beta1 was not increased. Immunocytochemical staining showed that the cultured mast cells were positive for both latency-associated peptide and activated forms of TGF-beta. Bioassay with Mv1Lu cells and R 4-2 mutant cells showed that mast-cell conditioned medium had a bioactivity of TGF-beta1.


CONCLUSIONS
Cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells constitutively express mRNA for TGF-beta1 and produce functional TGF-beta1. Because TGF-beta1 has been shown to be highly fibrogenic, these results may highlight a novel role for human mast cells in tissue fibrosis.
Department of Dermatology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
N
N
Kanbe
M
M
Kurosawa
H
H
Nagata
H
H
Saitoh
Y
Y
Miyachi
D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D007476:Ionophores; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000001:Calcimycin; D004247:DNA