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Generation of mast cells from mouse fetus: analysis of differentiation and functionality, and transcriptome profiling
Nobuyuki Fukuishi1, Yuusuke Igawa, Tomoyo Kunimi
1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, Japan. nobuf@ph.bunri-u.ac.jp
Plos One
|April 11, 2013
Summary
Fetal liver-derived mast cells (FLMC) offer a valuable alternative to bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) for studying mast cell functions. FLMC provide a useful model for gene manipulation studies when embryonic lethality is a concern.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Gene knockout studies in mast cells are crucial for understanding protein functions.
- Embryonic lethality from gene manipulation often hinders research on mast cells.
- Fetal liver-derived mast cells (FLMC) present an alternative to bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the fundamental functions of FLMC with BMMC.
- To evaluate FLMC as a tool for mast cell research, especially when gene manipulation causes embryonic lethality.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy to analyze granule morphology.
- Flow cytometry to assess surface marker expression (FcεRI, c-Kit, Sca-1).
- Next-generation sequencing for comprehensive gene expression analysis.
Main Results:
- FLMC exhibit numerous small, electron-dense granules.
- FcεRI expression and IgE-mediated degranulation are comparable between FLMC and BMMC.
- FLMC show distinct c-Kit and FcεRI surface expression timing compared to BMMC, indicating different differentiation pathways.
- Gene expression profiles are highly similar (98.6% concordance) between FLMC and BMMC.
Conclusions:
- FLMC are functionally comparable to BMMC and possess unique differentiation characteristics.
- FLMC represent a valuable new tool for studying mast cell differentiation and protein function, particularly in cases of embryonic lethality.
