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Updated: May 5, 2026

Investigating Mast Cell Secretory Granules; from Biosynthesis to Exocytosis
Published on: January 26, 2015
Lysophosphatidylcholine induces mast cell secretion and protein kinase C activation
1Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego School of Medicine.
Abstract:
Lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC), a natural product of phospholipase A2 activity, induced the secretion of both granule-associated beta-hexosaminidase and newly generated leukotriene C4 from mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells. Micromolar concentrations of lyso-PC potentiated the release of beta-hexosaminidase induced by specific antigen but not the calcium ionophore, A23187. Exogenous adenosine was relatively ineffective in enhancing beta-hexosaminidase release from cells challenged with lyso PC. Lyso-PC caused a marked increase in intracellular free-calcium levels and induced the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). These effects could not be abrogated by a prolonged preincubation with pertussis toxin. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of PKC, partially inhibited the abilities of antigen and A23187 to induce beta-hexosaminidase release but was ineffective when lyso-PC was the secretagogue. Lyso-PC appears to activate mast cell PKC, but its ability to stimulate mast cell mediator release appears to be related to its ability to elevate intracellular free calcium concentrations.
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