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Functional abnormalities in the intestine associated with mucosal mast cell activation
1Department of Medicine, McMaster University Health Sciences Center, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Regional Immunology
|March 1, 1992
Summary
Mast cells in the gut trigger abnormal intestinal function and ion secretion when activated. This finding offers new insights into gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mast cells are key components of gastrointestinal mucosa.
- Evidence links mast cells to intestinal disorders, including food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Activated mast cells release mediators that can induce pathophysiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mast cell activation in intestinal pathophysiology.
- To explore mast cell-nerve interactions in the gut.
- To examine mast cell-induced ion secretion in human intestine.
Main Methods:
- Studies in experimental animals involving hypersensitivity and antigen challenge.
- Use of genetically mast cell-deficient mice and adoptive transfer of mast cell precursors.
- Investigation of mast cell activation in surgically resected human intestinal tissue.
Main Results:
- Antigen challenge in sensitized animals activates mast cells, altering intestinal ion transport and permeability.
- Mast cell mediators and neurotoxins affect intestinal secretory transport.
- In mast cell-deficient mice, antigen-induced secretion is significantly reduced and restored by mast cell precursors.
- Mast cell activation induces ion secretion in human intestine, with reduced responses in IBD specimens.
Conclusions:
- Mast cell activation directly causes abnormal gut function.
- Mast cell-nerve interactions are implicated in regulating intestinal responses.
- Mast cells may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease.