Demonstration of mast-cell chemotactic activity in nasal lavage fluid: characterization of one chemotaxin as c-kit ligand, stem cell factor

Nilsson, G. ; Hjertson, M. ; Andersson, M. ; Greiff, L. ; Svensson, C. ; Nilsson, K. ; Siegbahn, A.

Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Published 1998
ISSN:
1398-9995
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
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.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL: