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Human mast cells express stem cell factor
Author(s) -
Zhang Shaoli,
Anderson David F.,
Bradding Peter,
Coward William R.,
Baddeley Susan M.,
MacLeod John D. A.,
McGill James I.,
Church Martin K.,
Holgate Stephen T.,
Roche William R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199809)186:1<59::aid-path140>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - stem cell factor , autocrine signalling , tryptase , mast cell , interleukin 33 , chymase , paracrine signalling , immunoglobulin e , cytokine , interleukin 5 , biology , degranulation , microbiology and biotechnology , cell culture , receptor , immunology , stem cell , antibody , interleukin , progenitor cell , biochemistry , genetics
Stem cell factor (SCF) is a major cytokine regulator of mast cell growth and function. The present study demonstrates that human mast cells are able to produce SCF. Constitutive synthesis of SCF mRNA was seen in the mast cells isolated from human lung and skin by RT‐PCR. This was confirmed by in situ hybridization in conjunctival mast cells of both tryptase‐only (MC T ) and tryptase/chymase (MC TC ) subsets. SCF protein product was found in conjunctival MC T and MC TC mast cells by immunohistochemistry. Soluble SCF protein was detected in the culture supernatant of isolated lung mast cells by ELISA, and cross‐linkage of IgE receptor (Fcε–RI) on the lung mast cells in culture did not alter SCF mRNA expression, or the secreted soluble SCF protein. This was consistent with the finding that levels of SCF mRNA expression in conjunctival mast cells were similar between normal subjects and patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC). This study shows that human mast cells themselves are a cellular source of SCF, as well as being target cells for this growth factor. SCF may regulate mast cell growth and function via both paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. The production of SCF by mast cells may be regulated via mechanisms other than IgE receptor‐mediated pathways. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.