Urticaria pigmentosa (UP) is the most common form of cutaneous mastocytosis in children. It can be diagnosed clinically, based on the appearance of numerous brownish macules and papules that are symmetrically distributed, mostly on the trunk and the extremities. Skin biopsy is helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Treatment options generally include antihistamines and/or topical corticosteroids. In most cases, pediatric UP tends to disappear spontaneously before puberty. We present the case of a 9-month-old male with a history of multiple brownish patches and plaques, which started when he was four months old. He was diagnosed with UP based on clinical and histopathologic findings, and was prescribed oral antihistamines and emollients for symptomatic treatment.
cutaneous mastocytosis ; mast cell degranulation

This paper was aimed to establish a new method for evaluating the anaphylactoid reaction of 15 batches of Zushima Injection from different manufacturers in vitro. Basophilic leukemia cell line RBL-2 H3 cells were cultured in vitro and Compound 48/80 was selected as positive drug. Real-time cell analysis(RTCA) system was used to detect the changes of cell index(CI) value after drug intervention. The degranulation of RBL-2 H3 cells was verified with the toluidine blue staining technology by observing the changes of cell morphology and skeleton. Clustering method was used to analyze the CI values of 15 batches of Zushima Injection on RBL-2 H3 cells. The results showed Compound 48/80(20 μg·mL~(-1)) significantly changed the cell morphology and cytoskeleton, with obvious degranulation. After adding Compound 48/80, CI value decreased rapidly within 30 minutes, then decreased slowly, suggesting that RTCA system can be used for rapid and sensitive evaluation of RBL-2 H3 cell degranulation. The results of cluster analysis showed that Zushima Injection from different manufacturers had different effects on RBL-2 H3 cells. S1-S8 and Compound 48/80 groups were grouped into one cluster, which suggesting that the sample might have potential clinical anaphylaxis. S9-S15 and the normal control group were grouped into one cluster, suggesting there was no anaphylactoid reaction in the sample. In this study, a rapid in vitro anaphylaxis evaluation technique based on RTCA system and pattern recognition method was established, which can be used for rapid in vitro evaluation of anaphylaxis for traditional Chinese medicine injection.
Anaphylaxis ; Cell Degranulation ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes of brain mast cells after transient global ischemia in rats.

METHODSTransient global ischemia damage was induced by four-vessel occlusion. After 1 h to 14 days of ischemia, rats were perfused intracardially by 4% paraformaldehyde. The brains were dissected to serial sections using freeze microtome, and then stained with toluidine blue. Brain mast cell was observed under microscope.

RESULTMost brain mast cells were located in thalamus. The number of mast cells in thalamus markedly decreased during reperfusion after transient global ischemia. However, the degranulation rate of thalamus mast cells showed reverse change after ischemia.

CONCLUSIONBrain mast cells markedly degranulate after transient global ischemia, which may be involved in the pathological process after ischemia.

Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Cell Degranulation ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; pathology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo probe into the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia.

METHODSType-I collagenase was injected to destroy the structure of collagen fibers in the acupoint. Paw withdrawing latency and mast cell degranulation rate in the acute adjuvant arthritis rat were investigated. Effects of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) with twirling or thrusting-lifting manipulation on acupuncture analgesia and mast cells were compared when the structures of collagen fibers in the acupoint were destroyed or not.

RESULTSWhen the structures of collagen fiber were destroyed, the analgesic effects of both acupuncture manipulations were attenuated and the degranulation rate of mast cells caused by acupuncture were significantly inhibited.

CONCLUSIONCollagen fibers and mast cells in the acupoint play an important role in acupuncture analgesia. Collagen fibers participate in transmission and transform process of acupuncture signs from the acupoint to the target organ, and the degranulation of mast cells is positively correlated with acupuncture analgesia.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cell Degranulation ; Collagen ; physiology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite that causes vaginitis and cervicitis in women and asymptomatic urethritis and prostatitis in men. Mast cells have been reported to be predominant in vaginal smears and vaginal walls of patients infected with T. vaginalis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), activated by various stimuli, have been shown to regulate the transcriptional activity of various cytokine genes in mast cells. In this study, we investigated whether MAPK is involved in ROS generation and exocytotic degranulation in HMC-1 cells induced by T. vaginalis-derived secretory products (TvSP). We found that TvSP induces the activation of MAPK and NADPH oxidase in HMC-1 cells. Stimulation with TvSP induced phosphorylation of MAPK and p47phox in HMC-1 cells. Stimulation with TvSP also induced up-regulation of CD63, a marker for exocytosis, along the surfaces of human mast cells. Pretreatment with MAPK inhibitors strongly inhibited TvSP-induced ROS generation and exocytotic degranulation. Finally, our results suggest that TvSP induces intracellular ROS generation and exocytotic degranulation in HMC-1 via MAPK signaling.
Cell Degranulation ; Cell Line ; *Exocytosis ; Humans ; Mast Cells/*drug effects/*metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*metabolism ; Virulence Factors/*metabolism

BACKGROUND: Imidacloprid has been commonly used as a pesticide for crop protection and acts as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists. Little information about the relationship between imidacloprid and allergy is available. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effects of imidacoprid on IgE-mediated mast cell activation. METHODS: The rat basophilic leukemia cell line RBL-2H3 (RBL-2H3 cells) were treated with 10⁻³ – 10⁻¹² mol/L imidacloprid, followed by measuring the mediator production, influx of Ca²⁺ in IgE-activated RBL-2H3 cells, and the possible effects of imidacoprid on anti-dinitrophenyl IgE-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). RESULTS: It was shown that imidacoprid suppressed the production of histamine, β-hexosaminidase, leukotriene C4, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and Ca²⁺ mobilization in IgE-activated RBL-2H3 cells and decreased vascular extravasation in IgE-induced PCA. CONCLUSION: It is the first time to show that imidacloprid suppressed the activation of RBL-2H3 cells.
Animals ; Basophils ; Cell Degranulation ; Cell Line ; Crop Protection ; Histamine ; Hypersensitivity ; Interleukin-6 ; Leukemia ; Leukotriene C4 ; Mast Cells ; Necrosis ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Rats ; Receptors, Nicotinic

OBJECTIVETo investigate potential pathophysiological role of cardiac mast cells accumulation and degranulation on the collagen deposition after coronary microembolization (CME).

METHODSCME was induced in miniswine by selective infusion of 15X10(4) microspheres (diameter, 45 mum) into the left anterior descending artery groups (CME group, n=8). Some CME-induced animals were pretreated with the MC stabilizer tranilast (50 mg/kg, twice daily), beginning 2 weeks before CME and thereafter throughout the experimental period (CME +tranilast group, n=8), while some animals received tranilast without CME (tranilast group, n=8). Eight sham-operated animals without CME served as controls. After 30 days, the total number of MC and degranulating MCs and collagen deposition was assessed by histological and electronic microscopy studies.

RESULTSThe numbers of total and degranulating MCs and collagen volume fraction (CVF) at day 30 in CME group were significantly higher than those in controls (P <0.01). Treatment with tranilast significantly reduced the numbers of total and degranulating MCs and CVF at day 30 (all P <0.01). There was a significant positive correlation of the CVF with the number of total MCs (r=0.91, P <0.001) and degranulating MCs (r=0.92, P <0.001) over the CME myocardium.

CONCLUSIONMCs accumulation and degranulating contribute to myocardial fibrosis collagen deposition.

Animals ; Cell Degranulation ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Embolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Mast Cells ; pathology ; physiology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of estrogen-mediated experimental endometriosis in rats.

METHODSEndometriosis model was established by transplanting autologous fragments of uterus to the inner surface of the abdominal wall in 24 un-pregnant female Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were divided randomly into three groups (n=8 in each group), and were injected with different doses of estrogen: high-dose group (200 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹), low-dose group (100 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) and the control group (0 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹). The ovaries were surgically removed in high-dose and low-dose groups. Four rats were sacrificed in each group at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery. Their serum estradiol levels, size of lesions, total number of mast cells and degranulations, serum TNF-α levels, expression of tryptase and NGF in tissues were analyzed and compared among groups.

RESULTSThe mean levels of serum estradiol 2 weeks and 4 weeks after model established and serum TNF-α at 4 weeks in estrogen-treated groups were significantly higher than those in control group (all P<0.05). The mean size of endometriotic lesions in the estrogen-treated groups was also significantly larger than that in the control group 2 weeks and 4 weeks after model established (all P<0.05). Meanwhile, both at week 2 and week 4, the mean ratio of degranulation/total number of mast cells by toluidine blue staining in low-dose estrogen group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of NGF in high-dose estrogen group was significantly higher than that in the control group at week 4(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEstrogen can promote the growth of endometriotic lesions and may mediate the pathogenesis of endometriosis by activating mast cells, which may be associated with increasing TNF-α and NGF levels.

Animals ; Cell Degranulation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endometriosis ; pathology ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Female ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

This paper was aimed to establish screening methods of anaphylactoid reaction caused by safflower yellow for injection based on RBL-2 H3 cell degranulation model and mice model for acute anaphylactoid reaction,and evaluate the hypersensitivity caused by safflower yellow for injection from different batches. An in vitro cell model was used to keep the cells stimulated for an hour with different batches of safflower yellow for injection as the drug group,serum-free MEM medium as negative control group and 30 mg·L-1 C48/80 as positive control group respectively. The supernatant was then absorbed,and neutral red staining technique was used to detect the effect of safflower yellow injection on the degranulation of RBL-2 H3 cells with the positive cell rate of degranulation as the indicator.An in vivo model was established to validate the experimental results,and mice model for acute anaphylactoid reaction and ELISA method were adopted to detect the plasma histamine content,and screen the hypersensitivity caused by safflower yellow for injection at the animal level by using plasma histamine content as a test index. The results of the neutral red staining experiments showed that the positive control C48/80 could cause cell degranulation,and most of the cells were deeply stained. There was significant difference in positive cell rate between different batches of safflower yellow and positive control group. In the mice model for acute anaphylactoid reaction,it was found that the positive control C48/80 significantly increased the histamine content in the plasma of mice,while the safflower yellow in each batch did not cause a significant increase in plasma histamine( P<0. 000 1). The mechanism of anaphylactoid reaction is relatively complicated. This study was mainly based on the release of histamine and other active substances by degranulation of mast cells. No significant degranulation reaction of RBL-2 H3 cells induced by safflower yellow for injection was detected,nor was the plasma histamine level significantly increased in mice from the in vitro and in vivo aspects.
Anaphylaxis ; chemically induced ; Animals ; Cell Degranulation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chalcone ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Histamine ; blood ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo establish a new, real time, dynamic and direct optical detection method for mast cell degranulation caused by anaphylactoid reaction.

METHODA CD63-GFP plasmid was constructed and introduced steadily into rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. The movements of CD63-GFP, which was located on both the granule membranes and the plasma membranes of RBL cells stimulated by Compound 48/80, were studied by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRFM) both inside and on the surface of living RBL-2H3 cells.

RESULTBefore antigen stimulation, most granules with CD63-GFP hardly moved in RBL cells. However, after antigen stimulation, the granules moved dramatically. They reached the plasma membranes in a few minutes and fused with them instantaneously. The velocity of the granule movement toward the plasma membranes on antigen stimulation was calculated to be 0.05 micron x s(-1).

CONCLUSIONAnalysis of the movement of each granule provided a new insight into the elementary process of degranulation. The method is rapid, sensitive and reliable, which could be used as a new detection method for anaphylactoid reaction in vitro.

Anaphylaxis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; Cell Degranulation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Rats ; Tetraspanin 30 ; Time Factors