Related Experiment Videos
Sheep small intestinal mast cells/globule leucocytes: ability to divide
M Stankiewicz1, W E Jonas, W Cabaj
1AgResearch, Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
International Journal for Parasitology
|May 1, 1994
Summary
Mucosal mast cells/globule leukocytes (MMC/GLs) can divide in vitro when stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A). This suggests direct cell surface interaction drives MMC/GL proliferation, a key finding for understanding parasite-induced immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Mucosal mast cells/globule leukocytes (MMC/GLs) increase in the intestinal mucosa during nematode parasite infections.
- The mechanisms driving this accumulation, whether local cell division or external derivation, remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the proliferative capacity of MMC/GLs in vitro.
- To determine if MMC/GLs can undergo cell division.
Main Methods:
- MMC/GLs were isolated from immunized Romney sheep and cultured in RPMI 1640.
- Cultures were supplemented with varying concentrations of fetal lamb serum (FLS), fetal calf serum (FCS), or autologous serum.
- The effect of concanavalin A (Con A) on cell division was assessed over 9 days.
Main Results:
- Cell division ceased by day 2 without Con A but continued to day 9 with Con A stimulation.
- Higher serum concentrations generally supported better cell growth.
- Autologous serum at high concentrations was detrimental, but this could be overcome by increasing Con A, suggesting alpha-macroglobulin interference.
Conclusions:
- Data indicate that MMC/GLs possess the capacity for in situ division.
- Direct interaction of Con A with cell surface receptors appears to be responsible for initiating MMC/GL proliferation.
- This finding contributes to understanding immune cell dynamics during parasitic infections.