Influence of vitamin E on mast cell mediator release.

We investigated the influence of vitamin E on mediator activity and release in a canine mastocytoma cell line (C2) as a model for canine atopic dermatitis. Cells were incubated without and with vitamin E (100 microm) for 24 h. The histamine and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) release as well as the chymase and tryptase activity were measured. To stimulate the PGD2 and histamine release, cells were incubated with the wasp venom peptide mastoparan (50 microm) for 30 or 45 min. Nonstimulated as well as mastoparan-stimulated histamine and PGD2 release was reduced significantly in vitamin E-treated cells. The activity of chymase tended to decrease, but the tryptase activity of C2 cells was not influenced by vitamin E. These results indicate that vitamin E decreased the production and release of inflammatory mediators in C2 cells, suggesting that vitamin E might have a possible beneficial effect in inflammatory diseases.