title: Contribution of mast cells to bacterial clearance and their proliferation during experimental cystitis induced by type 1 fimbriated E. coli.
abstract: Bacterial infections of the urinary bladder are very common, and the role of mast cells in these infections is invariably thought of as a detrimental one. However, recent studies have shown that mast cells play a key role in host defense against various enterobacterial infections. In this manuscript, using mast cell-deficient (WBB6F1 - W/Wv) and mast cell-sufficient (WBB6F1 - +/+) mice we have investigated the protective role of mast cells in urinary bladder infections in vivo. Our findings show that (i) the mast cells are activated by FimH-expressing E. coli, and release large amount of histamine in the urinary bladder; (ii) the number of surviving bacteria in the urine is dependent on the presence of mast cells, and (iii) mast cell number in the bladder increases following uropathogenic infection in mice which is likely due to an increase in the mast cell growth-promoting cytokine IL-3 in bacteria-activated mast cells. Taken together, these observations suggest a beneficial role of mast cells in urinary bladder infections in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-RWJ Medical School, One Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick 08901, USA. malavira@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Rama
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malaviya
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Soman N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malaviya
mesh_terms: D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D003556:Cystitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006636:Histamine Release; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D000906:Antibodies; D007377:Interleukin-3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C058769:fimH protein, E coli; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D006632:Histamine