Mast cells induce migration of dendritic cells in a murine model of acute allergic airway disease.
BACKGROUND
The migration of dendritic cells (DCs) from the lungs to the regional lymph nodes is necessary for the development of allergic airway disease. Following activation, mast cells release a variety of stored or de novo-produced inflammatory mediators, several of them being capable of activating DCs. In this study, the role of mast cells on DC migration from the lungs to the thoracic lymph nodes was investigated in sensitized mice.


METHODS
Mast cell-deficient mice (Kit(W-sh/W-sh)) and their wild-type counterparts were sensitized intraperitoneally with ovalbumine (OVA) in saline and challenged by a single intranasal administration of OVA labeled with a fluorescent dye (OVA-Alexa).


RESULTS
Following challenge, the relative and absolute amount of OVA- Alexa-positive DCs was clearly increased in sensitized wild-type mice compared to nonsensitized mice. In contrast, sensitized Kit(W-sh/W-sh) showed no increase in OVA-Alexa-positive DCs compared to nonsensitized mast cell-deficient animals. In sensitized Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice reconstituted with bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), the number of OVA- Alexa-positive DCs was comparable to that in sensitized wild-type animals. However, transfer of allergen-exposed BMMCs to sensitized mice prior to airway challenge augmented airway inflammation similarly in wild-type and mast cell-deficient mice. In line with this, sensitization with allergen-pulsed DCs induced allergic airway disease independently of mast cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows an interaction between mast cells and DCs following allergen challenge in sensitized hosts. However, the function of mast cells can be bypassed in models utilizing activated allergen-exposed DCs to initiate the development of allergic airway disease.
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Third Medical Clinic, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Reuter
Nina
N
Dehzad
Helen
H
Martin
Anke
A
Heinz
Timo
T
Castor
Stephan
S
Sudowe
Angelika B
AB
Reske-Kunz
Michael
M
Stassen
Roland
R
Buhl
Christian
C
Taube
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D010047:Ovalbumin