IL-33 can promote survival, adhesion and cytokine production in human mast cells

• Published in: Laboratory investigation 2007-10, Vol.87 (10), p.971-978
• Main Authors: Iikura, Motoyasu, Suto, Hajime, Kajiwara, Naoki, Oboki, Keisuke, Ohno, Tatsukuni, Okayama, Yoshimichi, Saito, Hirohisa, Galli, Stephen J, Nakae, Susumu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: allergy; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cell Adhesion - physiology; Cell Survival - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Fibronectins - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Histamine Release - physiology; human umbilical cord blood-derived mast cells; Humans; IL-1; IL-18; Interleukin-13 - metabolism; Interleukin-18 - physiology; Interleukin-1beta - physiology; Interleukin-33; Interleukin-8 - metabolism; Interleukins - metabolism; Interleukins - physiology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Laboratory Medicine; Mast Cells - metabolism; Mast Cells - physiology; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Pathology; Phosphorylation; Prostaglandin D2 - metabolism; Receptors, Interleukin-1 - metabolism; research-article; Th2
• ISSN: 0023-6837; 1530-0307
• DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.3700663

IL-33 is a recently identified member of the IL-1 family of molecules, which also includes IL-1 and IL-18. IL-33 binds to the receptor, T1/ST2/IL-1R4, and can promote cytokine secretion by Th2 cells and NF-κB phosphorylation in mouse mast cells. However, the effects of these molecules, especially IL-33, in human mast cells are poorly understood. Expression of the receptors for IL-1 family molecules, specifically, IL-1R1, IL-18R and T1/ST2, was detectable intracellularly in human umbilical cord blood-derived mast cells (HUCBMCs) by flow cytometry, but was scarcely detectable on the cells' surface. However, IL-1β, IL-18 or IL-33 induced phosphorylation of Erk, p38 and JNK in naïve HUCBMCs, and IL-33 or IL-1β, but not IL-18, enhanced the survival of naive HUCBMCs and promoted their adhesion to fibronectin. IL-33 or IL-1β also induced IL-8 and IL-13 production in naïve HUCBMCs, and enhanced production of these cytokines in IgE/anti-IgE-stimulated HUCBMCs, without enhancing secretion of either PGD2 or histamine. Moreover, IL-33-mediated IL-8 production by HUCBMCs was markedly reduced by the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. In contrast to findings with mouse mast cells, IL-18 neither induced nor enhanced secretion of the mediators PGD2 or histamine by HUCBMCs. Our findings identify previously unknown functions of IL-33 in human mast cells. One of these is that IL-33, like IL-1β, can induce cytokine production in human mast cells even in the absence of stimuli of FcɛRI aggregation. Our findings thus support the hypothesis that IL-33 may enhance mast cell function in allergic disorders and other settings, either in the presence or absence of co-stimulation of mast cells via IgE/antigen–FcɛRI signals.