We previously demonstrated that Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) β1 suppresses IgE-mediated signaling in human and mouse mast cells in vitro, an effect that correlated with decreased expression of the high affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI. The in vivo effects of TGFβ1 and the means by which it suppresses mast cells have been less clear. The current study shows that TGFβ1 suppresses FcεRI and c-Kit expression in vivo. By examining changes in cytokine production concurrent with FcεRI expression, we found that TGFβ1 suppresses TNF production independent of FcεRI levels. Rather, IgE-mediated signaling was altered. TGFβ1 significantly reduced expression of Fyn and Stat5, proteins critical for cytokine induction. These changes may partly explain the effects of TGFβ1, since Stat5B overexpression blocked TGF-mediated suppression of IgE-induced cytokine production. We also found that Stat5B is required for mast cell migration toward SCF, and that TGFβ1 reduced this migration. We found evidence that genetic background may alter TGF responses. TGFβ1 greatly reduced mast cell numbers in Th1-prone C57BL/6 but not Th2-prone 129/Sv mice. Furthermore, TGFβ1 did not suppress IgE-induced cytokine release, and increased c-Kit-mediated migration in 129/Sv mast cells. These data correlated with high basal Fyn and Stat5 expression in 129/Sv cells, which was not reduced by TGFβ1 treatment. Finally, primary human mast cell populations also showed variable sensitivity to TGFβ1-mediated changes in Stat5 and IgE-mediated IL-6 secretion. We propose that TGFβ1 regulates mast cell homeostasis, and that this feedback suppression may be dependent upon genetic context, predisposing some individuals to atopic disease.

Anaphylaxis is a rapid, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction. Until recently, it was mainly attributed to histamine released by mast cells activated by allergen crosslinking (XL) of FcεRI-bound allergen-specific IgE. However, recent reports established that anaphylaxis could also be triggered by basophil, macrophage, and neutrophil secretion of platelet-activating factor subsequent to FcγR stimulation by IgG/Ag complexes. We have investigated the contribution of Fyn and Lyn tyrosine kinases to FcγRIIb and FcγRIII signaling in the context of IgG-mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA). We found that mast cell IgG XL induced Fyn, Lyn, Akt, Erk, p38, and JNK phosphorylation. Additionally, IgG XL of mast cells, basophils, and macrophages resulted in Fyn- and Lyn-regulated mediator release in vitro. FcγR-mediated activation was enhanced in Lyn-deficient (knockout [KO]) cells, but decreased in Fyn KO cells, compared with wild-type cells. More importantly, Lyn KO mice displayed significantly exacerbated PSA features whereas no change was observed for Fyn KO mice, compared with wild-type littermates. Intriguingly, we establish that mast cells account for most serum histamine in IgG-induced PSA. Taken together, our findings establish pivotal roles for Fyn and Lyn in the regulation of PSA and highlight their unsuspected functions in IgG-mediated pathologies.

Mast cells and MDSCs are increased by parasitic infection and tumor growth. We previously demonstrated that enhanced MDSC development in ADAM10 transgenic mice yielded resistance to Nb infection and that coculturing MDSCs and mast cells enhanced cytokine production. In the current work, we show that MDSCmast cell coculture selectively enhances IgE-mediated cytokine secretion among mast cells, without increasing MDSC cytokine production. This effect was independent of cell contact and elicited by Ly6C ϩ and Ly6C/Gϩ MDSC subsets. These interactions were functionally important. MDSC depletion with the FDAapproved drug gemcitabine exacerbated Nb or Trichinella spiralis infection and reduced mast cell-dependent AHR and lung inflammation. Adoptive transfer of MDSC worsened AHR in WT but not mast celldeficient Wsh/Wsh mice. These data support the hypothesis that MDSCs enhance mast cell inflammatory responses and demonstrate that this interaction can be altered by an existing chemotherapeutic. J. Leukoc. Biol. 95: 643-650; 2014.

Mast cell- and basophil-associated inflammatory diseases are a considerable burden to society. A significant portion of patients have symptoms despite standard-of-care therapy. Statins, used to lower serum cholesterol, have immune modulating activities. We tested the in vitro and in vivo effects of statins on IgE-mediated mast cell and basophil activation. Fluvastatin showed the most significant inhibitory effects of the six statins tested, suppressing IgE-induced cytokine secretion among mouse mast cells and basophils. Fluvastatin's effects were reversed by mevalonic acid or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphatase, and mimicked by geranylgeranyl transferase inhibition. Fluvastatin selectively suppressed key FcεRI signaling pathways, including Syk, Akt, and ERK. While mast cells and basophils from the C57BL/6J mouse strain were responsive to fluvastatin, those from 129/SvImJ mice were completely resistant. Resistance correlated with fluvastatin-induced upregulation of the statin target HMG-CoA reductase. Human mast cell cultures from eight donors showed a wide range of fluvastatin responsiveness. These data demonstrate that fluvastatin is a potent suppressor of IgE-mediated mast cell activation, acting at least partly via blockade of geranyl lipid production downstream of HMG-CoA reductase. Importantly, consideration of statin use for treating mast cell-associated disease needs to incorporate genetic background effects, which can yield drug resistance.

A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAM)-10 plays critical roles in neuronal migration and distribution. Recently, ADAM10 deletion was shown to disrupt myelopoiesis. We found that inducible deletion of ADAM10 using Mx1-driven Cre recombinase for a period of three weeks resulted in mast cell hyperplasia in the skin, intestine and spleen. Mast cells express surface ADAM10 in vitro and in vivo, at high levels compared to other immune cells tested. ADAM10 is important for mast cell migration, since ADAM10-deficiency reduced c-Kit-mediated migration. As with some mast cell proteases, ADAM10 expression could be altered by the cytokine microenvironment, being inhibited by IL-10 or TGFβ1, but not by several other T cell-derived cytokines. Collectively these data show that the ADAM10 protease is an important factor in mast cell migration and tissue distribution, and can be manipulated by environmental cues.