Preparation and characterization of mast cell cytoplasts

A new model system for studying biochemical reactions in mast cell plasma membranes was developed. Particles termed cytoplasts consisting of organelle-depleted cytoplasm surrounded by an intact plasma membrane were formed from cytochalasin B-treated mast cells ultracentrifuged through a discontinuous Ficoll gradient. Two cytoplasts were formed per mast cell and 95% were recovered. Mast cell cytoplasts had a mean diameter of 3.2 microns with a median volume of 38 microns 3. Enzyme marker studies indicated that subcellular recoveries in the mast cell cytoplast were: plasma membrane = 16%, cytoplasm = 39%, nucleus = 1.1%, granule = 0.5%. Analysis of IgE receptors indicated that mast cell cytoplasts retained the normal asymmetric orientation of the plasma membrane. Mast cell cytoplasts synthesized ATP, incorporated labeled fatty acids into complex lipids and retained fluorescein after deacylation of diacetylfluorescein. The quantity of cAMP (adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate) maintained in mast cell cytoplasts was 0.0304 pmol/10(6) original mast cells. Cytoplasts offer the opportunity to study plasma membrane and cytoplasmic biochemical events that occur during stimulation in a relatively physiologic environment.     

Binding of human IgE immunoglobulin to rat mast cells. A study by means of three independent techniques.

The binding of human myeloma IgE immunoglobulin on rat mast cells was studied by three independent techniques. A mixed agglutination reaction with anti-IgE-coated Sephadex granules demonstrated that only human IgE-coated rat mast cells were clearly agglutinated. This binding is strong (50% agglutination) in 3 min and progresses for 30 min (95% agglutination). Autoradiographic studies with 125I-labelled human serum proteins demonstrated the selective formation of grains on mast cells incubated with labelled IgE. Upon action of anti-IgE antiserum on IgE-coated rat mast cells, the mast cells released up to 47.5% of their total histamine content in a fluorometric histamine assay. A relationship was established between sensitizing doses of human IgE and histamine release. These results bring evidence for a binding of human IgE on rat mast cells and imply the existence of receptors for this immunoglobulin on mast cell membrane.     

On the nature of the presumed receptor for IgE on mast cells. IV. Inhibition of the PCA-blocking activity of cell-free particulate preparations and intact rat peritoneal mast cells by inhibitors of proteases.

The incubation of IgE-containing solutions from rat serum with particulate preparations from rat peritoneal mast cells results in the disappearance of some of the PCA-reactive IgE in the solution. This PCA blocking assay was used to measure the 'binding' of IgE to intact rat mast cells or to particulate preparations derived from mast cells. The PCA-blocking activity at pH 4.8 was up to 100-fold greater than that seen at a physiologic pH of 6.6. PCA-blodking activity was inhibited at both these pH conditions by high concentrations of several trypsin inhibitors. The inhibitors were generally more active at the more acid pH. Among the active inhibitors were soybean and limabean trypsin inhibitors, chymostatin, and p-nitrophenyl-p'-guanidinobenzoate. Inhibitors of acid proteases, such as pepstatin and diazaacetylnorleucine methyl ester were inactive. The results support the proposition that under certain conditions IgE degradation by a specific proteolytic enzyme which is located uniquely on the plasma membrane of mast cells can account for a major portion of the PCA-blocking activity of these cells.     

Airway inflammation in a murine model of chronic asthma: evidence for a local humoral immune response

BACKGROUND: Asthma is an acute-on-chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by recruitment of eosinophils into the epithelial layer, chronic inflammation in the lamina propria, as well as variable accumulation of mast cells in the airway wall. The role of local production of allergen-specific immunoglobulins in triggering mast cell-mediated asthmatic inflammation is unknown. METHODS: We used a chronic inhalational exposure model of asthma in ovalbumin-sensitized BALB/c mice to examine the phenotype of immunoglobulin-secreting cells and mast cells in the airway wall. In parallel, we assayed ovalbumin-specific IgG and total IgE in the plasma of these animals. RESULTS: In sensitized mice exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin for 6 weeks, aggregates of chronic inflammatory cells consisted of a majority of plasmacytoid cells, including numerous IgG-synthesizing cells, which were significantly increased in sensitized animals compared to controls. IgA-synthesizing cells were also present, but were not increased in the sensitized exposed mice. Immunoglobulins in the cytoplasm of the plasma cells were demonstrated to be antigen-specific. No IgM-or IgE-synthesizing cells were observed, although levels of total IgE in the plasma were significantly increased. There was no recruitment of mast cells of either the mucosal or the connective tissue phenotype into the lamina propria or the epithelium. CONCLUSION: In this experimental model of chronic asthma, the pattern of inflammation in the airway wall is consistent with development of a local IgG-mediated humoral immune response. However, there is no evidence of local production of IgE or recruitment of mast cells.     

Fractionation of mast cell components for studies of ligand-receptor binding at the plasma membrane

This communication describes a simple procedure for fractionating mast cells producing plasma membranes and intact granules. Mast cells were purified over a bovine serum albumin density gradient and disrupted under conditions in which no histamine was released. Iodinated immunoglobulin E (IgE) bound to the cells served as a marker for the plasma membrane fraction. Employing a discontinuous sucrose gradient the plasma membrane and granule fractions were separated. The specific activity of the IgE binding to the isolated plasma membrane fractions was 10-fold higher compared with that of the IgE binding to intact cells.     

Induction of an auto-anti-IgE response in rats. II. Effects on mast cell populations

Immunization of rats with purified rat IgE myeloma (IR2) induces an IgG class autoantibody directed specifically against the IgE isotype. This has variable stimulatory effects on the serum IgE concentration in high IgE-producing BN rats but significantly decreases the serum IgE concentration in the conventional PVG.RT1u strain. We have examined the effects of inducing such an auto-anti-epsilon response on mast cell populations, as defined by their staining characteristics in BN rats. A persistent anti-epsilon response changed the proportions of mast cell types. Those containing highly sulfated, Safranin-positive granules which equate with cells described as connective tissue mast cells (CTMC) were reduced in number in skin, tongue and bone marrow, whereas the less highly sulfated, Alcian Blue-positive mast cells were increased in number in these tissues as well as in the gut, a site rich in the so-called mucosal mast cell. The overall number of mast cells in nonmucosal sites was not significantly changed in anti-IgE-producing rats. The direct effects of anti-epsilon antiserum on mast cells in vivo were investigated using an immediate skin response (ISR) technique. The IgG component of serum from IR2-immunized rats, fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography or eluted from Sepharose 4B-coupled IR2, gave positive ISR in naive rats. The ISR was inhibited by prior incubation of immuno-purified rat anti-IR2 with solid-phase IR2 or with two unrelated IgE myeloma proteins but not with rat IgG. Histological examination confirmed that degranulation of CTMC had occurred at the ISR sites.     

Nature of cells binding anti-IgE in rats immunized with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: IgE synthesis in regional nodes and concentration in mucosal mast cells

The possibility that IgE is a secretory immunoglobulin has been examined by studying the tissue and cellular localization of IgE in rats infested with the enteric parasite, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. The lamina propria of the small intestine and the colonic and pulmonary mucosal surfaces contained numerous anti-IgE-binding cells, but these were shown to be mast cells and not plasma cells. The major site of IgE synthesis was the regional lymph node of the small intestine, the mesenteric node, which contained large numbers of IgE-secreting plasma cells. Smaller numbers of IgE-secreting plasma cells were also found in the axillary node, which drained the site of larvae injection. Peyer's patches, the intrapulmonary bronchial lymphoid tissue and the spleen contained few, if any, IgE-secreting plasma cells. The significance of the IgE which was readily demonstrated in germinal centers of the mesenteric lymph nodes, the Peyer's patches and the axillary lymph nodes, is not known. In contrast to the infested animals, the lymphoid organs of normal rats rarely contained any IgE-containing cells. An unexpected observation was that mast cells in mucosal organs appear to contain intracellular IgE, differing in this respect from connective tissue mast cells. Mast cells lying between epithelial cells, the “globule leukocytes”, also appear to contain intracellular IgE, and it is suggested that such cells may be responsible for the presence of IgE in exocrine secretions. This study does not support the suggestion that IgE is a secretory immunoglobulin with a Physiology analogous to that of IgA.     

Further studies on rat mast cell degranulation by IgE—anti-IgE and the inhibitory effect of drugs related to cAMP

With a modified rat mast cell degranulation (RMCD) technique developed by Korotzer, Haddad and Lopapa (1971), the mechanism of mast cell degranulation by IgE—anti-IgE reaction and the inhibitory effect of cAMP-related compounds upon IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation were studied. Degranulations of 90 per cent or more were decreased to 13–16 per cent when the mast cells were pretreated with human IgE or normal human serum. However, if rat mast cells were pretreated with anti-human IgE rabbit serum or normal rabbit serum, the degranulation per cent in these cells by IgE—anti-IgE reaction was the same as in the nontreated cells. These results suggest the presence of receptors in rat mast cells for human IgE or normal human serum, and the lack of receptors in these cells for anti-human IgE rabbit serum or normal rabbit serum.

Treatment of isolated rat mast cells with adenyl cyclase stimulating agents (isoprenaline, adrenaline, prostaglandin E₁ and E₂) and theophylline or aminophylline, which inhibit the enzymatic degradation of cAMP, also inhibited the morphological degranulation of the mast cells. Cromoglycate or chlorophenes in derivatives, which might have a stabilizing effect of the cell membrane, also inhibited the degranulation of the rat mast cells mediated by IgE—anti-IgE reaction. These results support the attractive hypothesis that cAMP occupies a central modulatory role in the in vitro mast cell degranulation by IgE—anti-IgE reaction.

     

Bicistronic expression plasmid encoding allergen and anti-IgE single chain variable fragment antibody as a novel DNA vaccine for allergy therapy and prevention

Several approaches have been applied in order to alleviate the difficulties allergic patients are suffering from. Among them DNA vaccination and anti-IgE antibody have shown promising results. Herewith, a combination of both strategies is proposed to minimize IgE production while inducing high levels of blocking IgG and strong Th1 immune responses. A bicistronic expression plasmid including an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) can express both, allergen and a single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against human IgE within antigen presenting cells (APCs) including B cells. Presentation of allergen derived peptides via MHC I and MHC II stimulates specific Th1 responses resulting in high levels of IFN-gamma and IgG. Anti-IgE scFv antibody binds to newly synthesized IgE molecules within B cell cytoplasm and also to free serum IgE, thereby inhibiting attachment of IgE to its receptors on basophils and mast cells. Also, IgE-anti-IgE complex functions as blocking antibody and neutralizes allergens entering the body. Additionally, anti-IgE scFv antibody binds to membrane bound IgE (mIgE) on B cells and interferes with IgE expression. Using assays, such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), IgG and IgE production in response to this expression system can be evaluated. Also, rat basophil leukemia cell assay (using RBL-2H3 cells) can show the amount of functional IgE in sera as basophil mediator release is regarded as an indicator of the allergic hypersensitive reactions. The proposed approach may result in high levels of blocking IgG and low levels of IgE secretion from B cells. Additionally, it can inhibit activity of IgE in degranulation of basophils and mast cells.     

A new concept of triggering mechanisms of IgE-mediated histamine release.

It is generally accepted that an initial step of reaginic hypersensitivity reactions is a bridging of mast cell--bound IgE antibody molecules by antigen. Since IgE molecules are firmly bound to receptors on mast cells, bridging of cell-bound IgE molecules probably brings receptor molecules into close proximity. A hypothesis was therefore presented that such a local change in membrane structure and/or possible interaction between adjacent receptor molecules may be triggering mechanisms of IgE-mediated histamine release. The hypothesis was tested by use of antibodies against "exposed portion" of receptor molecules on rat basophilic leukemia cells. It was found that antireceptor antibodies and its F(ab')2fragments induced noncytotoxic histamine release from normal rat mast cells without participation of IgE, while the monovalent Fab' fragments of the antibody failed to do so. However, sensitization of normal rat skin with the Fab' fragments followed by an intravenous injection of antirabbit IgG induced skin reactions. These findings support the concept that bridging of receptors rather than polymerization of IgE molecules is responsible for the activation of membrane-associated enzymes which in turn leads to histamine release.     

Studies on the Interaction of Human Immunoglobulin E with Rat Mast Cells

The present study was undertaken to determine if human IgE immunoglobulin could be shown to bind to rat peritoneal mast cells and to establish whether binding is a prerequisite for the cellular alterations taking place during the rat mast cell test. It was found that sensitization of rat mast cells occurs very rapidly in the presence of human IgE immunoglobulin. Thus, incubation of the IgE immunoglobulin at 37°C for 3 min with rat mast cell suspension and washing the suspension once with medium 199 led to morphological changes in the mast cells on challenge with anti-human IgE immunoglobulin. However, attempts to correlate longer periods of incubation time with increased sensitization or show the extent of binding by multiple washings of the cell suspension were unsuccessful due to the lability of the rat mast cells. On the other hand, significant uptake of IgE immunoglobulin was observed by the mast cells after exposing the cell suspension to (a) radiolabelled ¹²⁵I-IgE immunoglobulin for 3 min at 37°C and washing the suspension and (b) IgE immunoglobulin for 3 min at 37°C, washing the cell suspension and challenging the cells with FITC-labelled anti-human IgE immunoglobulin. At 3 min exposure time, human IgE immunoglobulin was not bound by neutrophils or eosinophils nor was human IgG immunoglobulin bound by mast cells.     

Studies on the Interaction of Human Immunoglobulin E with Rat Mast Cells

The present study was undertaken to determine if human IgE immunoglobulin could be shown to bind to rat peritoneal mast cells and to establish whether binding is a prerequisite for the cellular alterations taking place during the rat mast cell test. It was found that sensitization of rat mast cells occurs very rapidly in the presence of human IgE immunoglobulin. Thus, incubation of the IgE immunoglobulin at 37°C for 3 min with rat mast cell suspension and washing the suspension once with medium 199 led to morphological changes in the mast cells on challenge with anti-human IgE immunoglobulin. However, attempts to correlate longer periods of incubation time with increased sensitization or show the extent of binding by multiple washings of the cell suspension were unsuccessful due to the lability of the rat mast cells. On the other hand, significant uptake of IgE immunoglobulin was observed by the mast cells after exposing the cell suspension to (a) radiolabelled ¹²⁵I-IgE immunoglobulin for 3 min at 37°C and washing the suspension and (b) IgE immunoglobulin for 3 min at 37°C, washing the cell suspension and challenging the cells with FITC-labelled anti-human IgE immunoglobulin. At 3 min exposure time, human IgE immunoglobulin was not bound by neutrophils or eosinophils nor was human IgG immunoglobulin bound by mast cells.     

Immature peritoneal mast cells in neonatal rats express the CTMC phenotype, as well as functional IgE receptors.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the differentiation and maturation of mast cells and the expression of IgE receptors on their surface in neonatal animals in vivo. Another aim was to clarify whether connective tissue mast cells (CTMC) undergo a maturation process involving a transdifferentiation from mucosal mast cells (MMC) during this period of time. Mast-cell phenotypes were studied in terms of the profiles of proteinases and proteoglycan. In 1-week-old rats, the mast-cell granules stained with Alcian blue rather than with safranin (AB+/S-) in the Alcian blue/safranin staining sequence, normally regarded as a property of MMC. However, the AB+/S-stained proteoglycan was degradable by nitrous acid and stained with berberine sulphate, thus indicating that it contained heparin rather than chondroitin sulphate. The mast cells expressed rat mast-cell proteinase (RMCP) I rather than RMCP II, which is normally found in MMC. The mast cells of 1-week-old rats expressed functional IgE receptors, by showing a dose-dependent IgE-mediated histamine release of mast cells. About 70% of the IgE receptors on the mast cells were occupied by IgE. In 2- to 3-week-old rats, there was a progressive increase in mast cells stained with both Alcian blue and safranin or with safranin alone, i.e. they gradually changed towards the staining properties of CTMC (AB-/S+). The expression and the degree of IgE occupancy of the receptors increased in 1- to 3-week-old animals. This was paralleled by an increment in cell size and in the content of heparin, histamine and serotonin in the mast cells. The findings thus indicate that the peritoneal mast cells of neonatal rats express the CTMC phenotype and undergo a maturation process at from 1 to 3 weeks of age, without involving a transdifferentiation from MMC. The maturation of the mast cells is accompanied by an increase in the expression of functional IgE receptors on the cell surface. production was detectable as early as in 1-week-old rats.     

Evidence for an inflammatory pathophysiology in idiopathic rhinitis

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of idiopathic rhinitis is unknown but the disease is classified as being non-allergic on the basis of negative serum IgE radioallergosorbent assay (RAST) and skin prick tests. In contrast, allergic rhinitis has a Th2 type inflammatory pathology mediated by IgE and mast cells. OBJECTIVE: To test the null hypothesis that there would be no difference in the cellular infiltrate for key Th2-associated inflammatory cells between allergic and idiopathic rhinitis. METHODS: We applied strict selection criteria in the recruitment of allergic and idiopathic rhinitis cases. In contrast to previous studies which used cytology or small biopsies, we studied all layers of the mucosa by using whole, full-thickness nasal turbinate specimens with an average length of 2.5 cm. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques were used to compare the distribution and cell populations of mast cells, IgE positive (IgE+) cells, eosinophils and plasma cells in perennial allergic (n = 11) and idiopathic (n = 17) rhinitis, and control nasal mucosal tissue (n = 9). RESULTS: Mast cells and IgE+ cells were significantly increased within the epithelium of allergic and idiopathic mucosa compared to normal mucosa (P < 0.05). More IgE+ cells were present in the allergic group compared to the idiopathic group with the majority of IgE+ cells being mast cells. Both rhinitic groups showed increased eosinophilia localized to the superficial submucosa compared to normal mucosa (P < 0.05). More plasma cells were present in the allergic rhinitic tissue. CONCLUSION: Idiopathic and allergic rhinitic mucosa show similarities in their inflammatory infiltrate suggesting that both groups share a highly localized Th2, IgE-mediated cellular immunopathology.     

Suggestive evidence for a direct innervation of mucosal mast cells

Mast cells are often observed near nerves and functional evidence suggests an innervation of these cells. In the present ultrastructural study, nerve terminals containing many small clear vesicles and a few large vesicles with dense matrix were observed in direct contact with the plasma membrane of mucosal mast cells in the rat ileum, strongly suggestive of a direct innervation.     

Mechanism of histamine release from rat isolated peritoneal mast cells by dextran: The role of immunoglobulin E

In vivo passive sensitization of rat peritoneal mast cells withNippostrongylus braziliensis antiserum or rat monoclonal myeloma IgE greatly enhanced histamine releasein vitro by dextran or anti IgE, but did not alter release by compound 48/80 or A23187. Conversely, removal of IgE from the cells by acid pH abolished histamine release by dextran and anti IgE but did not impair release by compound 48/80. Whereas, histamine release from cells isolated from rats genetically resistant to dextran (NR rats) by anti IgE was potentiated by passive sensitization, dextran was unable to stimulate secretion from control or sensitized NR cells. The results suggest that dextran releases histamine by interaction with cell-fixed IgE and that the NR mast cell membrane lacks the ability to interpret this stimulus.     

Rat mast cell granules reacting with a mouse monoclonal antibody M6764 which recognizes the same epitope of a mouse monoclonal antibody HNK-1.

Rat mast cell granules and plasma membrane fractions were obtained by homogenization of highly purified rat mast cells and isolation in a Percoll gradient and a sucrose gradient, respectively. Immunostaining of rat mast cells, granules and plasma membrane fractions was performed with mouse monoclonal antibody M6764 which was produced against the crude membrane fractions of the neural tubes. Rat mast cells and granules were immunostained with the monoclonal antibody, but not the plasma membrane fractions. The granules fixed with glutaraldehyde-paraformaldehyde showed ring-like forms. Chloroform-methanol treatment did not effect the staining of rat mast cells and granules with the monoclonal antibody. Western blotting analysis of rat mast cells and granules with the monoclonal antibody showed broad protein bands ranging from 100 to 250 kD.     

Ultrastructural features of mast cells in picryl chloride (PCL)-induced contact dermatitis in IQI/Jic mice

Mast cells are one of the major effector cells in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as contact dermatitis. In the present study, ultrastructural features of mast cells in contact dermatitis were examined. Namely, the ear of IQI/Jic mice was topically applied with picryl chloride (PCL) at 4 (1st), 11 (2nd), 18 (3rd) and 25 days (4th) after the sensitization with PCL to the abdominal skin. The changes in the ear swelling responses, total serum IgE levels and histology including mast cell numbers were similar to those of previous reports by our research group (Ikeda et al. 2000; Jung et al. 2001). Ultrastructurally, after the 1st application, a close spacial relationship between mast cells and neutrophils and phagocytosis of mast cell granules by neutrophils were observed. Mast cells generally contained non-fused swollen granules filled with altered contents with low electron density and showed an extrusion of membrane-free granules through membrane pores. In addition, interestingly, a few mast cells secreted membrane-bound granules into the dermis without leaving cell membrane damage. After the 4th application when the number of mast cells prominently increased and the total serum IgE level was greatly elevated, in addition to mast cells showing typical anaphylactic degranulation, many mast cells probably in the recovery process from degranulation and several immature mast cells characterized by well-developed Golgi apparatus, many ribosomes and a few electron-dense secretory granules in the peripheral cytoplasm were also observed at the same time. The present results clarified the ultrastructural features of mast cells in the course of PCL-induced contact dermatitis in IQI/Jic mice.     

Histamine release from dispersed human intestinal mast cells

To study the human intestinal mast cell of children and adults, we combined a sensitive glassfibre-based histamine assay with the enzymatic and mechanical dispersion of surgical specimens or mucosal biopsies. The method yields between 1.2 x 10(3) to 4.6 x 10(3) mast cells/mg tissue constituting 1.2% to 5.3% of total cell count. The mast cell yield, however, depends on the intestinal tissue specimen used for dispersion. Aliquots containing 1500 mast cells per sample are sufficient for measuring significant amounts of histamine (greater than or equal to 0.15 ng histamine per sample), thus making it possible, to carry out approximately 75 tests for four mucosal biopsies of 10 mg each. The intestinal mast cell releases histamine in a dose-dependent manner on challenge with anti-IgE (6-600 U/ml), ionophore A23187 (0.25-1.0 microM), and Concanavalin A (0.7-25.0 micrograms/ml). The histamine release shows interindividual variation with a net histamine release between 0 to 2.5 ng/samples dependent on the secretatogue. In general, it is not necessary to passively sensitize the mast cells to obtain a sufficient histamine release response to anti-IgE challenge, indicating the presence of intact and functional cell-bound IgE. However, it is shown that four of 10 non-atopic intestinal mast cell samples could be passively sensitized with human plasma containing either mite- or grass-specific IgE without stripping off the IgE first. This indicates the presence of free and preserved Fc-receptors on the dispersed mast cells in some subjects. In addition, it is found that the phorbolester TPA increases the histamine release response to A23187 and turns anti-IgE non-responding mast cells into responding mast cells, but TPA alone at 2 to 16 ng/ml has no histamine releasing effect. In patients with anti-IgE responding mast cells no additional effect of TPA is seen. Finally, no substantial differences between mast cells of children and adults are demonstrated.