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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Isolation of Peritoneum-derived Mast Cells and Their Functional Characterization with Ca2+-imaging and Degranulation Assays
11:31

Isolation of Peritoneum-derived Mast Cells and Their Functional Characterization with Ca2+-imaging and Degranulation Assays

Published on: July 4, 2018

Histamine and TNF-alpha release by rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated with Trichomonas vaginalis

S J Im1, M H Ahn, I H Han

  • 1Department of Environmental Biology and Medical Parasitology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, #17 Haengdang-dong, Sungdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea.

Parasite (Paris, France)
|March 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) infection triggers mast cell migration and the release of inflammatory mediators like histamine and TNF-alpha. These findings suggest mast cells play a role in the inflammatory response to T. vaginalis.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Parasitology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Mast cells are prevalent in vaginal smears of patients with Trichomonas vaginalis infections.
  • Trichomonas vaginalis is a common sexually transmitted parasite.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if Trichomonas vaginalis can induce mast cell migration.
  • To determine if Trichomonas vaginalis activates mast cells to produce TNF-alpha and histamine.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) as a primary cell model.
  • Assessed mast cell chemotactic migration towards T. vaginalis excretory and secretory products (ESP).
  • Measured histamine and TNF-alpha release from activated mast cells.

Main Results:

  • T. vaginalis significantly increased mast cell migration towards its ESP.
  • Activated mast cells demonstrated elevated release of histamine.
  • Activated mast cells showed increased production of TNF-alpha.

Conclusions:

  • Mast cells are recruited by T. vaginalis.
  • T. vaginalis infection leads to mast cell activation and the release of inflammatory mediators.
  • Mast cells are likely involved in the inflammatory response associated with T. vaginalis infections.

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