Inhibitory effect of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on mast cell proliferation and A23187-induced histamine release, also accompanied by a decreased c-kit receptor.

Using mouse peritoneal mast cells, we investigated the effects of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) on mast cell proliferation and histamine release. Calcitriol did not affect IL-3/IL-4-dependent mast cell proliferation, but it selectively inhibited stem cell factor-dependent mast cell proliferation and colony formation. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses revealed that calcitriol treatment reduced expression of purified peritoneal mast cell c-kit protein. Using a mast cell line, MC/9, both c-kit protein and c-kit mRNA transcript were seen to be reduced following calcitriol treatment. Calcitriol also reduced histamine release induced by calcium ionophore A23187. In contrast, anti-IgE antibody-dependent histamine release was not affected by calcitriol. Our results indicate that calcitriol inhibits mast cell proliferation and A23187-induced histamine release that might be associated with a decreased expression of c-kit receptor.