p38 MAP kinase drives the expression of mast cell-derived IL-9 via activation of the transcription factor GATA-1.

Mast cells are able to produce a huge panel of mediators including the Th2-type cytokine IL-9, which is considered to be a key mediator for the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, but detailed information on the regulation of IL-9 transcription in mast cells has been scarce. Herein we provide evidence that the erythroid/myeloid transcription factor GATA-1, which is not expressed in Th2 cells, is a potent activator of IL-9 expression in murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC). Furthermore, in mast cells, but not in Th2 cells, production of IL-9 is sensitive to inhibition of p38 MAP kinase. As transactivation mediated by GATA-1 is also sensitive to inhibition of p38 MAP kinase, and GATA-1 i…

15. Mainzer Allergie-Workshop 2003

Murine bone marrow-derived mast cells as potent producers of IL-9: costimulatory function of IL-10 and kit ligand in the presence of IL-1.

Abstract Recently, the Th2-type cytokine IL-9 was identified by genetic mapping analyses as a key mediator that determines the susceptibility to asthma. This has been further supported by data from IL-9-transgenic mice in which the overexpression of IL-9 in the lung causes airway inflammation, mast cell hyperplasia, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. In an accompanying paper, we demonstrate that murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) after stimulation with either ionomycin, a combination of ionomycin and IL-1, or via IgE-Ag complexes and IL-1 are very potent producers of IL-9. Herein we show that a dramatic increase of IL-9 production is observed when BMMC activated with ionomycin/IL-…

IL-9 and IL-13 production by activated mast cells is strongly enhanced in the presence of lipopolysaccharide: NF-kappa B is decisively involved in the expression of IL-9.

Abstract Mast cells, due to their ability to produce a large panel of mediators and cytokines, participate in a variety of processes in adaptive and innate immunity. Herein we report that in primary murine bone marrow-derived mast cells activated with ionomycin or IgE-Ag the bacterial endotoxin LPS strongly enhances the expression of IL-9 and IL-13, but not IL-4. This costimulatory effect of LPS is absent in activated mast cells derived from the LPS-hyporesponsive mouse strain BALB/c-LPSd, although in these cells the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 can still substitute for LPS. The enhanced production of mast cell-derived IL-13 in the presence of IL-1 is a novel observation. Coactivation of m…

The Streptococcal Exotoxin Streptolysin O Activates Mast Cells To Produce Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha by p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase- and Protein Kinase C-Dependent Pathways

ABSTRACTStreptolysin O (SLO), a major virulence factor of pyogenic streptococci, binds to cholesterol in the membranes of eukaryotic cells and oligomerizes to form large transmembrane pores. While high toxin doses are rapidly cytocidal, low doses are tolerated because a limited number of lesions can be resealed. Here, we report that at sublethal doses, SLO activates primary murine bone marrow-derived mast cells to degranulate and to rapidly induce or enhance the production of several cytokine mRNAs, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Mast cell-derived TNF-α plays an important protective role in murine models of acute inflammation, and the production of this cytokine was analyzed…