No abstract available.
Leukemia, Mast-Cell* ; Mast Cells*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Leukemia, Mast-Cell* ; Mast Cells*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mast cells and interleukin-9 (IL-9) in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) development and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe expression level of CD117 in tumor tissues of 32 B-NHL patients was determined by Western blot. The infiltration of CD117⁺ mast cells (MCs) in human B-NHL tumor tissues was observed by immunohistochemistry staining. To evaluate the correlations between the data from CD117⁺ MCs and biological markers of human B-NHL, a Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) was calculated. IL-9 levels in sera of B-NHL patients were measured by ELISA. Effects of IL-9 on expressions of functional genes of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of CD117 was upregulated significantly in human B-cell NHL involved tissues when compared with that of controls (0.0551±0.0064 vs 0.0192±0.0072, P<0.01). Infiltration of more CD117⁺ MCs was found in tissues from B-cell NHL subjects compared with that of controls. IL-9 level in serum samples from patients with B-cell NHL was higher than that from healthy controls. Addition of rIL-9 to the culture gave rise to increase in the purity of mouse BMMCs in the first three weeks. In vitro culture experiments showed that the addition of IL-9 could induce the differentiation of mouse BMMC and the expressions of MC-related genes, including CD117, Fcer1α, Mcpt1 and Mcpt5.

CONCLUSIONOur study showed that IL-9 promoted immune response mediated by MCs, and probably played important roles in B-NHL growth. Pharmacological or targeted inhibition of mast cells or IL-9 activity may provide new strategy for B-cell NHL therapy.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Interleukin-9 ; blood ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; pathology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; Mice

In spontaneous hair loss of C57BL/6N mice model, we investiged the factors related to hair loss by microscopic and immunocytochemical methods. The results were as follows; Microsopic observation of sebaceous gland was developed, and subcutaneous layer was thin in SA and AU group. Number of mast cells in SA and AU group was more increased than that of other groups. Number and immunoreactive density of CD4/CD8 lymphocytes was more increased than that of other groups. Immunoreactivity of substance P and CRF was weakly stained in stem cell region of SA and AU group. Immunoreactivity of CRF-R and CRF-BP was weakly stained in stem cell and bulge regions of SA and AU group. Immunoreactivity of stem cell factor was weakly stained in stem cell, bulge region and dermal papilla of SA and AU group. These experiment suggest that factors related to hair loss in spontaneous hair loss C57BL/6N mice models are increased of mast cell, CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, and decreased of cytokine and neuropeptide in stem cell, bulge region and dermal papilla.
Animals ; Hair* ; Lymphocytes ; Mast Cells ; Mice* ; Neuropeptides ; Sebaceous Glands ; Stem Cell Factor ; Stem Cells ; Substance P

Ca2+-signals in endothelial cells are determined by release from intracellular stores and entry through the plasma membrane. In this review, the nature of Ca2+ entry and mechanisms of its control are reviewed. The following ion channels play a pivotal role in regulation of the driving force for Ca2+ entry: an inwardly rectifying K+ channel, identified as Kir2.1, a big-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channel (hslo) and at least two Cl- channels (a volume regulated Cl- channel, VRAC, and a Ca2+ activated Cl- channel, CaCC). At least two different types of Ca2+-entry channels exist: 1. A typical CRAC-like, highly selective Ca2+ channel is described. Current density for this Ca2+ entry is approximately 0.1 pA/pF at 0 mV and thus 10 times smaller than in Jurkat or mast cells. 2. Another entry pathway for Ca2+ entry is a more non-selective channel, which might be regulated by intracellular Ca2+. Although detected in endothelial cells, the functional role of trp1,3,4 as possible channel proteins is unclear. Expression of trp3 in macrovascular endothelial cells from bovine pulmonary artery induced non-selective cation channels which are probably not store operated or failed to induce any current. Several features as well as a characterisation of Ca2+ -oscillations in endothelial cells is also presented.
Cell Membrane ; Endothelial Cells* ; Endothelium ; Ion Channels* ; Mast Cells ; Potassium Channels ; Pulmonary Artery

Changes of histopathological findings with time were studied after scratching the skin of 37 patients with dermographism. Biopsies were also done in 13 normal healthy controls for comparison with unstroked skin of the patients. 1. Biopsies of unscratched skin of the patients showed no histologic difference from those of the skin from controls. 2. Neutrophils increased in number with time after scratching and maximum neutrophil count (mean 16.08+/-24.17/HPF) was observed at 90 minutes after scratching 3. Eosinophilic infiltration was also similar to that of neutrophils. Maximum eosinophil count (mean 324+/-4.76/HPF) was found at 60 minutes after scratching. 4. L ymphohistiocytic infiltration showed a similar tendency to that of neutrophils, but the degree of change was not so prorninent. 5. Before scratching, mast cell count in patients with dermographism showed no difference in number when compared with norrnal controls. In patients with dermographism, mast; cell count inclined to decrease after scratching. 6. Edema and lymphatic dilatation in the upper dermis were most prominent at 5 minutes after scratching and disappeared slowly thereafter.
Biopsy ; Cell Count ; Dermis ; Dilatation ; Edema ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Neutrophils ; Skin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There have been no reports on the effect of chronic psychological stress on colonic immune cells or the regional differences. We aimed to investigate the effect of chronic psychological stress on the number of mast cells and protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2-positive cells in the rat colonic mucosa. METHODS: Six-week-old and 14-week-old Ws/Ws rats, which lack mast cells after 10 weeks, were used as control and mast cell-deficient groups, respectively. The rats were divided into stress and sham-treated groups. Rats in the stressed group were exposed to water avoidance stress (WAS, 1 hour/day) for 13 days. Fecal pellet output and the number of mast cells and PAR-2-positive cells in colonic mucosa were compared between the WAS and sham groups. RESULTS: In 6-week-old rats, the WAS group showed a significantly higher number of mast cells compared to the sham group. In 14-week-old rats, mast cells were nearly absent in the colonic mucosa. WAS significantly increased PAR-2-positive cells in 14-week-old rats, but not in 6-week-old rats. Indirect estimation of PAR-2-positive mast cells in 6-week-old rats suggested that the majority of increased mast cells following WAS did not express PAR-2. WAS increased mast cells and PAR-2-positive cells mainly in the proximal colon. Fecal pellet output was continuously higher in the WAS group than in the sham group, and the difference was significant for both 6-week-old and 14-week-old rats. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic psychological stress increased the number of mast cells and PAR-2-positive cells in rat colonic mucosa, and these increases were more prominent in the proximal colon.
Animals ; Cell Count* ; Colon* ; Mast Cells* ; Mucous Membrane ; Rats* ; Receptor, PAR-2 ; Stress, Psychological

The potential role of topical valproate (VPA) in hair regrowth has been recently suggested. However, safety reports of VPA as a topical formulation are lacking. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether VPA causes skin irritation in humans. We first performed a cell viability test and showed that VPA did not exhibit toxicity toward HaCaT keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and RBL-3H mast cells. We then performed clinical patch test and skin irritation test through transdermal drug delivery with the help of microneedle rollers. No significant findings were obtained in the clinical patch test. In the skin irritation test, only 1 patient showed erythema at 1 hr, but the irritation reaction faded away within a few hours. Erythema and edema were not observed at 24 hr. We concluded that VPA has minimal potential to elicit skin irritation. Therefore, we consider that VPA can safely be applied to human skin.
Cell Survival ; Edema ; Erythema ; Fibroblasts ; Hair ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Mast Cells ; Patch Tests ; Skin ; Valproic Acid

BACKGROUND: Allergic disease is an inflammatory disease, whose main inflammatory cells are eosinophils, mast cells, and T lymphocytes. From that point, new therapeutic targets on allergic inflammation focusing on them are under investigation. We extracted four isoflavonoids from Sophorica japonica such as sophi, orobol, genistin, and genistein which has been known as PTK antagonist. We documented those three iso-flavonoids except genistein had an anti-inflammatory effect as potent as dexamethasone on carageen-induced ear model. Also they had antagonism on the Y-16 cell line, whose growth is dependent on IL-5. OBJECTIVES: From above results, in this experiment, we tried to find antagonistic effects of those compounds on IL-5 using the inhibition of eosinophil activation and survival in vitro and possibility of anti-allergic medicine. METHODS: LTC4 by RIA and ECP for degranulation by UniCAP(TM), which had been used previously were activation markers. RESULTS: Among those compounds, sophi was the most potent antagonist on IL-5 induced LTC4 release, degranulation, and survival. Orobol and genistin also had antagonism on them, but genistein, an antagonist of PTK didn't show any antagonistic effects. CONCLUSION: From these results, we concluded those three iso-flavonoids were IL-5 antagonist, and the mechanism of it might not be through PTK signaling.
Cell Line ; Dexamethasone ; Ear ; Eosinophils ; Genistein ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-5* ; Leukotriene C4 ; Mast Cells ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: There has been no general agreement in classifying basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and little is known about the immunohistochemical profiles in each subtypes of BCC. BCC is a locally-invasive tumor, but its aggressive forms tend to recur and metastasize. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we have compared the histolopathological subtypes of BCC by immunohistochemical study. We also focused on identifying representative markers of growth in the aggressive forms of BCC by assessing VEGF, p53 and alpha-SMA expression. METHODS: A total of 87 BCC specimens were collected at the 7 branch hospitals of The Catholic University of Korea from July 1997 to June 2003. For multiple immunohistochemical staining, a tissue microarray technique was used. The 87 samples were divided into 6 subtypes: 18 nodular, 19 nodular infiltrative, 12 micronodular, 14 infiltrative, 11 morphea and 13 basosquamous. Overall, 18 samples were classified as non-aggressive and the remaining 69 as aggressive. RESULTS: The following results were obtained after immunohistochemical staining with antibodies alpha-SMA, VEGF and p53. A significant increase of alpha-SMA expression was observed in aggressive forms of BCC, whereas the expression of p53, VEGF, the number of mast cells remained the same. The representative markers of tumor growth such as alpha-SMA were most highly expressed in the basosquamous type, and least expressed in the micronodular type compared to the nodular type. CONCLUSION: alpha-SMA was considered as an appropriate immunohistochemical marker in BCC to represent aggressiveness.
Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Hospitals, Satellite ; Immunohistochemistry ; Korea ; Mast Cells ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A