Nerve growth factor release with mast-cell-derived mediators in a patient with systemic mastocytosis after middle-wave ultraviolet irradiation.
BACKGROUND
The symptoms of a 56-year-old man with systemic mastocytosis became worse with exposure to sunlight. We evaluated mast-cell-derived mediators and cytokines before and after exposure to ultraviolet light in the patient.


METHODS
The patient was irradiated with middle-wave ultraviolet light, so-called ultraviolet light B, and the levels of mediators and cytokines were measured serially. The point mutation Asp816Val in c-kit was investigated by analyzing polymerase chain reaction products from the complementary DNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.


RESULTS
Before irradiation, the levels of mast-cell-derived mediators and metabolites were elevated. Among various cytokines measured, including soluble c-kit and stem cell factor, only the level of nerve growth factor was elevated. After irradiation, the nerve growth factor level was further increased along with the levels of mast-cell-derived mediators and metabolites. The point mutation Asp816Val in c-kit was not detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Middle-wave ultraviolet light may activate mast cells to release nerve growth factor and mediators in systemic mastocytosis.
Kurosawa
M
M
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Inamura
H
H
Amano
H
H
Kanbe
N
N
Nagata
H
H
Nagai
H
H
Furukawa
S
S
Miyachi
Y
Y
D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D016207:Cytokines; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor