Establishment and characterization of a murine mast cell line derived fromNC/Nga mice

A cell line, termed NCJ, was established from the bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) of NC/Nga mice that are mouse models for atopic dermatitis. N CJ cells expressed Fc epsilon RI and c-kit and showed a metachromasia of th e granules with a toluidine blue-positive and safranin-negative staining pa ttern that is characteristic for immature-type mast cells. Interestingly, N CJ cells showed proliferation independent of IL-3, which was associated wit h constitutive phosphorylation of Raf-1 and Erk kinases. Although NCJ cells had several characteristics of mast cells, we failed to detect Fc epsilon RI-mediated beta -hexosaminidase release and its histamine content. These f indings indicated that NCJ cells represented a mast cell line with an immat ure phenotype and the ability to proliferate in the absence of mast cell gr owth factors. NCJ cells might thus be useful to study the molecular basis o f mast cell proliferation. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.