Description:
Executive Summary
This technology is an immortalized human mast cell line that is easily cultured without growth factors and that has a high expression of FcεRI for investigating inflammation response.
Background
Mast cells exist in several types of tissues and play a role in allergy and anaphylaxis as a factor in inflammation response. They are also involved in wound healing and defense against pathogens. These cells express the high-affinity receptors that are specific to IgE, FcεRI, on their surface, making IgE molecules cell-surface receptors for an antigen. When bound IgE molecules find a substrate, mast cells release inflammatory mediators like histamine.
Invention Description
These cells were grown from CD34 -enriched mononuclear cells derived from a donor with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). In contrast to traditional mast cell differentiation, cells survived after six to eight weeks and have been maintained in culture for approximately one year without further addition of growth factors (IL-6 or SCF).
The cells were confirmed to be mast cells on the basis of staining characteristics (toluidine blue and chloroacetate esterase). Mast cell-associated genes demonstrated expression of histidine decarboxylase, FcεRI, LTC4 synthase, PgD2 synthase, the mast cell-associated transcription factor MITF, chymase, tryptase, the mast cell carboxypeptidase A3, and ckit.
Advantages
The invention:
- Can be maintained without addition of growth factors
- Has a unique expression profile ideal for drug screening
Applications
These cells can be used for investigations of inflammation and allergy, drug screening, diagnostic development and basic research.
