Establishment of a mast cell line, NCL-2, without Kit mutation, derived from NC mouse bone marrow

• We established an immortal mast cell line without Kit mutation, NCL-2.
• NCL-2 cells could be maintained without additional growth factors.
• NCL-2 cells expressed FcεRI and released histamine and LTB4 in response to antigens.
• NCL-2 cells were tumorigenic but much less aggressive than P815 mastocytoma.

Immortal mast cell lines, such as RBL-2H3 and HMC-1 cells, are commonly utilized to investigate the function of mast cells. However, they are tumor cells carrying a gain-of-function mutation of Kit. We established an immortal mast cell line without Kit mutation, NCL-2, derived from NC mouse bone marrow. NCL-2 cells could be maintained without additional growth factors and thus could respond to exogenous growth signals. Moreover, NCL-2 cells expressed FcεRI and KIT, and release histamine and LTB4 in response to antigen stimulation. This cell line could be a useful tool to analyze proliferation, differentiation, and function of normal mast cells.