Human heart mast cells: a definitive case of mast cell heterogeneity
Abstract
Mast cells and their chemical mediators play a role in cardiac and systemic anaphilaxis. Perivascular and cardiac mast cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, and cardiomyopathy. Despite this, nothing is known about the immunological and biochemical characteristics of the human heart mast cell (HHMC). We have isolated and partially purified HHMC and compared them with mast cells isolated from lung (HLMC) and skin (HSMC) tissues. Cross-linking of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) by a polyclonal anti-Fc epsilon antibody caused the release of preformed (histamine and tryptase) and de novo synthesized mediators [peptide leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)]. The tryptase content of HHMC (19.4 +/- 1.5 micrograms/10(6) cells) was lower than HSMC (33.4 +/- 2.5 micrograms/10(6) cells) and higher than HLMC (10.6 +/- 1.9 micrograms/10(6) cells). Maximal stimulation of HHMC with anti-IgE led to the release of LTC4 (17.5 +/- 5.1 ng/10(6) mast cells) and PGD2 (17.8 +/- 5.0 ng/10(6) mast cells, whereas HSMC synthesized more PGD2 (65.0 +/- 6.8 ng/10(6) mast cells) and much less LTC4 (< 5 ng/10(6) cells). Recombinant human C5a anaphylatoxin an...Continue Reading
Citations
Receptors for the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a are expressed in human atherosclerotic coronary plaques
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