Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multicomponent disease characterized by emphysema and/or chronic bronchitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cigarette smoke exposure on mast cells and mast cell function in vitro and in vivo in order to get further insight in the role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of emphysema. Cigarette smoke conditioned medium (CSM) induced the expression of mast cell tryptase (MMCP-6) in primary cultured mast cells. This tryptase expression was caused by the CSM-stimulated production of TGF-beta in culture and neutralization of TGF-beta suppressed the CSM-induced expression of tryptase in mast cells. An increase in mast cell tryptase expression was also found in an experimental model for emphysema. Exposure of mice to cigarette smoke increased the number of mast cells in the airways and the expression of mast cell tryptase. In accordance with the in vitro findings, TGF-beta in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of smoke-exposed animals was significantly increased. Our study indicates that mast cells may be a source of TGF-beta production after cigarette smoke exposure and that in turn TGF-beta may change the tryptase expression in mast cells.
| Original language | Undefined/Unknown |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1154-60 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Basis of Disease |
| Volume | 1822 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 |