Cord-blood-derived human cultured mast cells produce interleukin 13 in thepresence of stem cell factor

Background: Mast cells have been regarded as a potential source of cytokine s. Although the human mast cell line HMC-1 and human lung mast cells have b een shown to produce interleukin (IL) 13, it still remains uncertain whethe r cord-blood-derived human cultured mast cells produce IL-13. Methods: Huma n cultured mast cells were raised from cord blood cells in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) and IL-6. Levels of IL-13 mRNA were examined by a se miquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, IL-13 level s in the supernatants were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent ass ay. Results: When the IgE-sensitized cultured mast cells were activated wit h anti-IgE, mRNA for IL-13 was amplified with a peak at 3 h after the stimu lation. IL-13 was not detected in the supernatants of the activated mast ce lls in the absence of SCF, whereas the mast cells secreted significant amou nts of IL-13 after the stimulation in the presence of SCF. Calcium ionophor e A23187 also stimulated the mast cells to release IL-13 into the supernata nt in the presence of SCF. Conclusions: These observations suggest that hum an mast cells can produce IL-13 under the condition with SCF. The cord-bloo d-derived human cultured mast cells will help in studying the functional pr operties of human mast cells in allergic diseases.