BACKGROUND: While mast cells have been previously shown to express both GATA-1 and GATA-2 mRNAs, individual functions for these related factors during their course of differentiation within the mast cell lineage have not yet been defined. To address this question, the expression of GATA-1 and GATA-2 mRNAs and proteins were examined in three mouse mast cell progenitor lines as well as in mast cells isolated from both wild-type and GATA-1-deficient mice. RESULTS: Both mast cell progenitor lines, as well as primary mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and peritoneal mast cells (PMCs) were examined by RNA blotting and immunological analyses. GATA-2 protein was abundantly expressed in all three mast cell lines and in BMMCs, but only weakly in some of PMCs. In contrast, GATA-1 protein was expressed in PMCs and BMMCs after culture in the presence of IL3 and SCF. We also found the presence of Alcian blue staining-positive but berberine staining-negative mast cells in the skin of mice heterozygous to GATA-1 knock-down allele. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the expression of GATA factor-dependent genes is regulated by GATA-2 during mast cell development and that GATA-1 is required for the specification of differentiated mast cell phenotypes.
BACKGROUND: While mast cells have been previously shown to express both GATA-1 and GATA-2 mRNAs, individual functions for these related factors during their course of differentiation within the mast cell lineage have not yet been defined. To address this question, the expression of GATA-1 and GATA-2 mRNAs and proteins were examined in three mouse mast cell progenitor lines as well as in mast cells isolated from both wild-type and GATA-1-deficient mice. RESULTS: Both mast cell progenitor lines, as well as primary mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and peritoneal mast cells (PMCs) were examined by RNA blotting and immunological analyses. GATA-2 protein was abundantly expressed in all three mast cell lines and in BMMCs, but only weakly in some of PMCs. In contrast, GATA-1 protein was expressed in PMCs and BMMCs after culture in the presence of IL3 and SCF. We also found the presence of Alcian blue staining-positive but berberine staining-negative mast cells in the skin of mice heterozygous to GATA-1 knock-down allele. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the expression of GATA factor-dependent genes is regulated by GATA-2 during mast cell development and that GATA-1 is required for the specification of differentiated mast cell phenotypes.
Authors: Fabrizio Martelli; Barbara Ghinassi; Rodolfo Lorenzini; Alessandro M Vannucchi; Rosa Alba Rana; Mitsuo Nishikawa; Sandra Partamian; Giovanni Migliaccio; Anna Rita Migliaccio Journal: Stem Cells Date: 2008-02-14 Impact factor: 6.277