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Demonstration of mast‐cell chemotactic activity in nasal lavage fluid: characterization of one chemotaxin as c‐kit ligand, stem cell factor
Author(s) -
Nilsson G.,
Hjertson M.,
Andersson M.,
Greiff L.,
Svensson C.,
Nilsson K.,
Siegbahn A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1998.tb03994.x
Subject(s) - chemotaxis , mast cell , stem cell factor , nasal lavage , immunology , medicine , budesonide , provocation test , allergy , chemistry , asthma , receptor , pathology , stem cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , progenitor cell , alternative medicine
Mast cells are known to accumulate in tissue during allergic inflammation. However, the chemotaxins responsible are undefined. Using a modified Boyden chamber and Ihe human mast‐cell line HMC‐1, we first identified mast‐cell chemotactic activity in nasal lavage fluid collected before the pollen season after allergen provocation of allergic patients (N=29) (mean migratory response compared to medium control was 121%, range 85‐198%). Mast‐cell chemotactic activity was also detected in lavage fluid collected after allergen provocation at the end of a Swedish birch‐pollen season from three different treatment groups: topical steroid treatment with budesonide; the topical antihistamine, levocabastine; and placebo. There was no significant difference in mast‐cell chemotactic activity between nasal lavage fluid collected from the placebo group (mean = 102%), the budesonide‐treated group (mean = 1l4%), or the levocabastine group (mean = 125%). Stem cell factor (SCF), a known mast‐cell chemotaxin, was present in the nasal lavage fluids from all three groups, and correlated with the mast‐cell chemotactic activity (r = 0.67, P < 0.0l). TTie mast‐eell chemotactic activity was inhibited (range 5‐tOO%) in some, but not all, nasal lavage fluids by a polyclonal antibody directed against SCF. This report describes the presence of mast‐cell chemotactic activity in nasal lavage fluid during an allergic reaction. These findings show that SCF may play a pivotal role in the recruitment of mast cells in allergic rhinitis.