| Research Abstract |
Mast cell proteases play an important role in the immediate hypersensitivity reaction. We studied the factors that could influence the expression of mouse mast cell protease (MMCP). By in situ hybridization, we showed that the MMCP-2 mRNA was expressed by mast cells located in the mucosa of the stomach. In contrast, mast cells located in the muscularis propria did not express the MMCP-2 mRNA. Next, we investigated changes in protease expression phenotype of mast cells after transplantation of bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMCMCs) or peritoneal mast cells (PMCs) of WBB6FィイD21ィエD2-+/+ mice into tissues of mast cell-deficient WBB6FィイD21ィエD2-W/WィイD1VィエD1 mice. When 10ィイD15ィエD1 cells were injected, BMCMCs can adapt to new environments, whereas PMCs did not adapt. In contrast, when 20 PMCs were injected, they proliferated and adapted to the environment. Furthermore, we showed that the transcription factor MITF was involved in the transactivation of the MMCP-4, MMCP-5 and MMCP-6 genes. Since mast cell proteases are a mediator in the numerous allergic diseases, this study may provide us with a useful therapeutic strategy for allergic diseases.
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