Mast cells contain large quantities of secretagogue-sensitive N-acetylaspartate

Mast cells play a central role in both immediate allergic reactions and inflammation. A functional nerve-mast cell interaction has been proposed, given the morphological association between mast cells and neuropeptide-containing peripheral nerves. We now show that purified rat peritoneal mast cells contain large quantities of N-acetylaspartate (NAA; 747.50 nmol/mg of protein). Mast cell levels of NAA were rapidly reduced, by 64.0 and 86.4%, following treatment with compound 48/80 and mastoparan, respectively. These secretagogues strongly decreased mast cell histamine content over the same time period, suggesting also that NAA is stored in secretory granules. The data are the first to show that NAA is present in an immune effector cell type. Because NAA may be involved in myelin synthesis and glutamyl peptide metabolism, NAA released from mast cells following nervous or other stimuli could participate in neuroimmune interactions. Mast cells in multiple sclerosis plaques may contribute to the reported elevations in brain NAA in this disease.