The Roles of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways for Human Cultured Mast Cells

Abstract

Background: Human cultured mast cells release histamine, sulfidoleukotrienes and prostaglandin D₂, and produce some cytokines after an allergic reaction. As concerns the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, extracellular signal-regulated kinases, c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinases and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase are known. The present study has been conducted to investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase in the mediator release from human cultured mast cells. Material and Methods: To investigate the role of these kinase pathways, we examined the participation of this kinase activation for mediator release by making use of U0126, a signal transduction, extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway inhibitor, and SB203580, a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitor. Results: Histamine release is not related to mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Sulfidoleukotrienes and prostaglandin D₂ release are mediated by signal transduction, extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. Granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor production may be induced by both signal transduction, extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase pathways. Conclusion: Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways play an important role in mediator release from human mast cells.