Immunological activation of human umbilical cord blood mast cells induces tryptase secretion and interleukin-6, and histidine decarboxilase mRNA gene expression

Allergy is the result of a complex immune cascade leading to the disregulated production of Th2 cytokines, the generation of allergen-specific IgE-producing B cells and the subsequent activation and degranulation of mast cells upon allergen challenge. Mast cell effector function significantly influences the quantity, duration and magnitude of most allergic reactions. Here, using isolated human umbilical cord blood mast cells (HUCBMC) from CD34+ cells, activated with anti-IgE (10 μg/ml) in culture, we found an augmented release of IL-6, tryptase and histamine (p < 0.01 compared with control). In addition, in these cells anti-IgE (10 μg/ml) activated the expression of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and IL-6. In these studies we describe a new biological activity of anti-IgE in inducing histidine decarboxylase and IL-6, suggesting that this cytokine may have an important effect on allergic and inflammatory diseases mediated by mast cells. Moreover, with these data we confirm the immunoregulatory and inflammarory function of mast cells.