Expression of E-cadherin in human mast cell line HMC-1

E-cadherin is one of the cell adhesion molecules normally expressed on epithelial cells. We previously reported that murine bone marrow-derived mast cells express E-cadherin that could be involved in homophilic binding with epithelial cell E-cadherin. In the present study we examined whether E-cadherin is also expressed in human mast cell HMC-1. Gene expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin was observed in HMC-1 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while N-cadherin expression was undetectable. cDNA sequencing of HMC-1 E-cadherin revealed no deletions or mutations. E-cadherin expression in HMC-1 was confirmed by immunoblotting as well as by flow cytometric analyses. In the presence of E-cadherin blocking antibody or a synthetic E-cadherin decapeptide with HAV sequence in culture medium, adhesion of HMC-1 cells to the A431 epithelial cell monolayer was slightly but significantly suppressed. In contrast, N- or P-cadherin decapeptides did not suppress the binding. These results indicated that human mast cell HMC-1 expresses E-cadherin, and is possibly involved in cellular interactions with epithelial cells, while other functions still remain to be elucidated.