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Loss of histochemical identity in mast cells lacking carboxypeptidase A.
- Source :
-
Molecular and cellular biology [Mol Cell Biol] 2005 Jul; Vol. 25 (14), pp. 6199-210. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- Mast cell carboxypeptidase A (Mc-cpa) is a highly conserved secretory granule protease. The onset of expression in mast cell progenitors and lineage specificity suggest an important role for Mc-cpa in mast cells. To address the function of Mc-cpa, we generated Mc-cpa-null mice. Mc-cpa-/- mast cells lacked carboxypeptidase activity, revealing that Mc-cpa is a nonredundant enzyme. While Mc-cpa-/- peritoneal mast cells were ultrastructurally normal and synthesized normal amounts of heparin, they displayed striking histochemical and biochemical hallmarks of immature mast cells. Wild-type peritoneal mast cells had a mature phenotype characterized by differential histochemical staining with proteoglycan-reactive dyes (cells do not stain with alcian blue but stain with safranin and with berberine) and a high side scatter to forward scatter ratio by flow cytometry and were detergent resistant. In contrast, Mc-cpa-/- peritoneal mast cells, like immature bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells, stained with alcian blue normally or weakly and either did not stain with safranin and berberine or stained weakly, had a low side scatter to forward scatter ratio, and were detergent sensitive. This phenotype was partially ameliorated with age. Thus, histochemistry and flow cytometry, commonly used to measure mast cell maturation, deviated from morphology in Mc-cpa-/- mice. The Mc-cpa-/- mast cell phenotype was not associated with defects in degranulation in vitro or passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in vivo. Collectively, Mc-cpa plays a crucial role for the generation of phenotypically mature mast cells.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antibodies immunology
Berberine pharmacology
Carboxypeptidases A analysis
Carboxypeptidases A genetics
Heparin immunology
Heparin metabolism
Histocytochemistry
Mast Cells drug effects
Mice
Mice, Mutant Strains
Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins metabolism
Phenotype
Proteoglycans metabolism
Serine Endopeptidases metabolism
Tryptases
Carboxypeptidases A physiology
Mast Cells enzymology
Mast Cells ultrastructure
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0270-7306
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 14
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Molecular and cellular biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15988029
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.25.14.6199-6210.2005