Tissue‐selective mast cell reconstitution and differential lung gene expression in mast cell‐deficient KitW‐sh/KitW‐sh sash mice

PJ Wolters, JMS Clair, CC Lewis… - Clinical & …, 2005 - Wiley Online Library
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2005Wiley Online Library
Summary Background Mast cell‐deficient KitW/KitW‐v mice are an important resource for
studying mast cell functions in vivo. However, because they are compound heterozygotes in
a mixed genetic background and are infertile, they cannot be crossed easily with other mice.
Objective To overcome this limitation, we explored the use of KitW‐sh/KitW‐sh mice for
studying mast cell biology in vivo. Results These mice are in a C57BL/6 background, are
fertile and can be bred directly with other genetically modified mice. Ten‐week‐old KitW …
Summary
Background Mast cell‐deficient KitW/KitW‐v mice are an important resource for studying mast cell functions in vivo. However, because they are compound heterozygotes in a mixed genetic background and are infertile, they cannot be crossed easily with other mice.
Objective To overcome this limitation, we explored the use of KitW‐sh/KitW‐sh mice for studying mast cell biology in vivo.
Results These mice are in a C57BL/6 background, are fertile and can be bred directly with other genetically modified mice. Ten‐week‐old KitW‐sh/KitW‐sh are profoundly mast cell‐deficient. No mast cells are detected in any major organ, including the lung. Gene microarrays detect differential expression of just seven of 16 463 genes in lungs of KitW‐sh/KitW‐sh mice compared with wild‐type mice, indicating that resting mast cells regulate expression of a small set of genes in the normal lung. Injecting 107 bone marrow‐derived mast cells (BMMC) into tail veins of KitW‐sh/KitW‐sh mice reconstitutes mast cell populations in lung, stomach, liver, inguinal lymph nodes, and spleen, but not in the tongue, trachea or skin. Injection of BMMC into ear dermis or peritoneum reconstitutes mast cells locally in these tissues. When splenectomized KitW‐sh/KitW‐sh mice are intravenously injected with BMMC, mast cells circulate longer and are found more often in the liver and inguinal lymph nodes, indicating that the spleen acts as a reservoir for mast cells following injection and limits migration to some tissues.
Conclusion In summary, these findings show that mast cell‐deficient KitW‐sh/KitW‐sh mice possess unique attributes that favour their use for studying mast cell functions in vivo.
Wiley Online Library