Differential Ca2+ mobilization and mast cell degranulation by FcεRI- and GPCR-mediated signaling

- Mast cell degranulation followed immediately after FcεRI and GPCR-mediated Ca2+ increase.
- FcεRI-induced Ca2+ increase was higher and more sustained than that induced by GPCRs.
- Ca2+ mobilization from the ER is both necessary and sufficient for the release of histamine.
- Extracellular Ca2+ promotes, but is not essential for, mast cell degranulation.
- Downregulation of SOCE reduces the intracellular Ca2+ levels and delays mast cell degranulation and histamine release.

Mast cells play a primary role in allergic diseases. During an allergic reaction, mast cell activation is initiated by cross-linking IgE-FcεRI complex by multivalent antigen resulting in degranulation. Additionally, G protein-coupled receptors also induce degranulation upon activation. However, the spatio-temporal relationship between Ca2+ mobilization and mast cell degranulation is not well understood. We investigated the relationship between oscillations in Ca2+ level and mast cell degranulation upon stimulation in rat RBL-2H3 cells. Nile red and Fluo-4 were used as probes for monitoring histamine and intracellular Ca2+ levels, respectively. Histamine release and Ca2+ oscillations in real-time were monitored using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). Mast cell degranulation followed immediately after FcεRI and GPCR-mediated Ca2+ increase. FcεRI-induced Ca2+ increase was higher and more sustained than that induced by GPCRs. However, no significant difference in mast cell degranulation rates was observed. Although intracellular Ca2+ release was both necessary and sufficient for mast cell degranulation, extracellular Ca2+ influx enhanced the process. Furthermore, cytosolic Ca2+ levels and mast cell degranulation were significantly decreased by downregulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) via Orai1 knockdown, 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (2-APB) or tubastatin A (TSA) treatment. Collectively, this study has demonstrated the role of Ca2+ signaling in regulating histamine degranulation.

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