Circulating mast cell progenitors correlate with reduced lung function in allergic asthma.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pulmonology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Mast cell progenitors circulate in the blood and migrate to the lungs during allergic airway inflammation.
• The identification of human mast cell progenitors in blood allows for clinical studies on their role in asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between blood mast cell progenitor frequency and allergic asthma outcomes.
• To explore the relationship between mast cell progenitors and inflammatory mediators in asthmatic patients.

Main Methods:

• Assessed mast cell progenitor frequency, total IgE, and plasma proteins in 38 allergic asthmatics and 29 controls.
• Performed spirometry to measure lung function (FEV1, PEF).

Main Results:

• Similar mast cell progenitor frequencies were observed between asthmatics and controls, but higher in those with reduced lung function and in women.
• Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) levels correlated positively with mast cell progenitor frequency and negatively with lung function.
• FcεRI expression on mast cell progenitors was higher in asthmatics and correlated with total IgE in controls.

Conclusions:

• Elevated circulating mast cell progenitors in allergic asthma are associated with reduced lung function, female gender, and higher FGF-21 levels.
• These findings suggest a role for mast cell progenitors and FGF-21 in asthma severity and progression.