Tainsh, Katrina Robertson; (1991) The skin mast cell: A comparison with mast cells from various tissues in man and other species. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D.), University College London.

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Abstract

In the present study, the histochemical and functional characteristics of the skin mast cell of the rat, guinea pig and man have been assessed and compared with those of mast cells from other connective tissue locations in these species. Of particular interest was the functional heterogeneity displayed by different mast cell subtypes to a number of polycationic compounds, the range of which was extended, in this study, to include a wide variety of both endogenous and synthetic, structurally diverse agents which shared a predominantly basic nature. In addition, the isolation and characterisation of a number of novel mast cell types are described; the uterine mast cell from both the guinea pig and man, and mast cells from the human bladder mucosa and submucosa/muscle from both normal specimens and one from a patient with interstitial cystitis (IC). The existence of a range of mast cell phenotypes in rat connective tissues has been demonstrated using histochemical and functional criteria. The peritoneal mast cell responded most strongly to both immunological and polybasic ligands, while the skin and lung mast cells were, in general, the least responsive. Variation in responsiveness to a variety of inhibitory agents was, however, less striking. The guinea pig skin and uterine mast cells were indistinguishable on the basis of their formalin sensitivity but the former cell displayed marked reactivity to polybasic compounds to which the latter were essentially refractory. In man, the skin mast cell was exquisitely responsive to all the polycationic agents tested which was in contrast to the relative quiescence of mast cells from other connective tissue sites such as the uterine myometrium and lung parenchyma. Preliminary findings have also suggested functional similarities between the skin mast cell and bladder mast cells from both the submucosa/muscle and mucosa in their reactivity to polybasic compounds. These cell types were also similarly refractory to the effects of DSCG and nedocromil sodium although, in general, differences were not marked amongst human mast cells in their responses to a spectrum of other inhibitory agents. The results of this study have highlighted the inadequecy of the present system of nomenclature (CTMC and MMC) which is in widespread use in the field of mast cell heterogeneity. In addition, while the rat does not provide a good test model for the human system, the guinea pig shows potential in this area. In conclusion, the present study has furthered our understanding of the extent and nature of mast cell heterogeneity in a variety of species.

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