Inhibition of mast cell Fc epsilon R1-mediated signaling and effector function by the Syk-selective inhibitor, piceatannol.

In RBL-2H3 rat tumor mast cells, antigens that cross-link the high affinity cell surface IgE receptor, Fc epsilon R1, activate at least two receptor-associated protein-tyrosine kinases, Lyn and Syk, and cause the tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor beta and gamma subunits, PLC gamma 1, Vav, and other proteins. Cross-linking antigens also induce increased phosphatidylinositol turnover, Ca2+ mobilization, secretion, actin polymerization, spreading, and membrane ruffling. We have used the protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, piceatannol (3,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene), to explore the coupling of specific kinases to cellular responses. Piceatannol preferentially inhibits the activity of Syk as compared with Lyn when added to in vitro assays with isolated enzymes. Treatment of RBL-2H3 cells with piceatannol strongly inhibits the antigen-stimulated activation of Syk measured in anti-Syk and anti-phosphotyrosine immune complex kinase assays at concentrations that have no effect on receptor subunit phosphorylation and maintain or increase the activity of Lyn in anti-phosphotyrosine immune complex kinase assays. In cells metabolically labeled with [32P]orthophosphate, piceatannol inhibits the antigen-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk and most other proteins. However, receptor subunit phosphorylation is unchanged. Selective inhibition of Syk in this manner blocks receptor-mediated down-stream cellular responses (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production, secretion, ruffling, and spreading) while having only minor effects when these responses are induced with drugs that bypass the receptor complex. These results reveal receptor-mediated Lyn activation as a relatively piceatannol-insensitive event that may contribute to receptor subunit phosphorylation and Syk activation but does not per se elicit cellular responses. Receptor-mediated Syk activation on the other hand is highly sensitive to piceatannol, is essential to Fc epsilon R1-mediated cellular responses, and, based on the increased phosphorylation of Lyn in piceatannol-treated cells, may be involved in terminating Lyn activity.