IgE-induced degranulation of mucosal mast cells is negatively regulated via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

The autonomic nervous system is known to mediate mast cell activation. We investigated expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in mucosal-type mast cells and their contribution to the regulation of mast cell activation. Expression of mRNA of nAChR α4, α7, and β2 subunits were detected in specially differentiated mucosal-type murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (mBMMCs). Pretreatment with non-specific nAChRs agonists, acetylcholine, nicotine and epibatidine and a specific α7 subunit agonist GTS-21 significantly inhibited antigen-induced degranulation of mBMMCs in a dose-dependent manner and GTS-21-induced inhibition was significantly blocked by α7 subunit antagonist, α-bungarotoxin. Furthermore, confocal microscopy also demonstrated surface binding of α-bungarotoxin on mBMMCs. Our findings indicate that mucosal mast cell activation may be negatively regulated mainly through nAChR α7 subunit, suggesting that nAChRs are involved in neuronal-mucosal mast cell interactions.