A negative regulator of delayed prostaglandin D2 production in mouse mast cells

Signal Transduction Pathways Activated by Innate Immunity in Mast Cells: Translating Sensing of Changes into Specific Responses

Mast cells (MCs) constitute an essential cell lineage that participates in innate and adaptive immune responses and whose phenotype and function are influenced by tissue-specific conditions. Their mechanisms of activation in type I hypersensitivity reactions have been the subject of multiple studies, but the signaling pathways behind their activation by innate immunity stimuli are not so well described. Here, we review the recent evidence regarding the main molecular elements and signaling pathways connecting the innate immune receptors and hypoxic microenvironment to cytokine synthesis and the secretion of soluble or exosome-contained mediators in this cell type. When known, the positive and negative control mechanisms of those pathways are presented, together with their possible implications for the understanding of mast cell-driven chronic inflammation. Finally, we discuss the relevance of the knowledge about signaling in this cell type in the recognition of MCs as central elements on innate immunity, whose remarkable plasticity converts them in sensors of micro-environmental discontinuities and controllers of tissue homeostasis.

An overview of mast cell pattern recognition receptors

BACKGROUND

Mast cells (MCs) are long-lived immune cells of the connective tissue which play a key role in development and amplification of inflammatory process initiated inter alia by allergic reactions or microbial infections. They reside in strategic locations in the body that are notably exposed to deleterious factors disturbing homeostasis, which enables them to become one of the first-line defense strategy. MCs have developed a wide range of various mechanisms to deal with invading intruders and harmful endogenic factors. Those include storage and synthesis with a subsequent release of inflammatory mediators, forming of MC-extracellular traps, and phagocytosis.

FINDINGS

Particularly, important role in microbial sensing is achieved due to the presence of different pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). The best-described receptors are Toll-like receptors activated by different pathogen- and damage-associated molecular patterns. However, MCs express also C-type lectin receptors specialized in antifungal defense, NOD-like receptors detecting bacterial peptidoglycans, and RIG-like receptors relevant in viral sensing.

CONCLUSION

This review will focus on the current knowledge of PRRs expressed within different types of MCs.

Resident peritoneal macrophages and mast cells are important cellular sites of COX-1 and COX-2 activity during acute peritoneal inflammation

INTRODUCTION

Cyclooxygenases (COXs) play important roles during inflammation. While reports on COX-2 function in inflammation preceded those on COX-1, it is now well established that both isoforms participate in this process. During inflammation, COX expression was reported in inflammatory leukocytes, but much less is known about their presence in tissue- resident leukocytes. The aim was thus to verify the expression and activity of the COX isoforms in resident peritoneal mast cells and macrophages during acute peritonitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Zymosan peritoneal inflammation was induced in C57BL/6J mice and COX-1 and COX-2 expression was evaluated by RT-PCR (mRNA level) and immunocytochemistry (protein level). COX activity was assessed by a specific assay and prostaglandin production by ELISA. Furthermore, some mice were selectively depleted of either peritoneal mast cells or macrophages and then COX activity was determined.

RESULTS

The study revealed that both COXs are expressed/active at the peak of inflammation, but COX-2 predominates during resolution. The expressions of the COXs were detectable in both populations of resident peritoneal leukocytes. In peritoneal macrophages both isoforms were active even during the late phases of peritonitis and the cells significantly contributed to PGE(2) and PGD(2) synthesis. The most striking observation was that resident macrophages are critical for PGD(2) production during the resolution of inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study documents that both COX isoforms participate in all stages of acute inflammation and that tissue-resident leukocytes, especially macrophages, are important sites of COX-1/COX-2 expression and prostaglandin synthesis.