Inhibition of stem cell factor- and nerve growth factor-induced morphological change by wortmannin in mast cells

Recombinant murine stem cell factor (rmSCF) or recombinant murine nerve gro wth factor (rmNGF) induced the morphological change of large numbers of rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC). We investigated the role of phosphatidylinos itol 3'-kinase (P13-kinase) in receptors-mediated morphological change in R PMC. Exposure of RPMC to P13-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, before the addit ion of rmSCF and rmNGF antagonized those factors-induced morphological chan ge. These results suggest that the P13-kinase is involved in the signal tra nsduction pathway responsible for morphological change following stimulatio n of rmSCF and rmNGF and that wortmannin blocks these responses.