Enolase 1 and calreticulin regulate the differentiation and function of mouse mast cells.

It has become widely accepted that the role of mast cells is not restricted to allergic processes. Thus, mast cells play an important role in innate and adaptive immune responses, but study of proteins related to differentiation of mast cells has not been done yet. Enolase 1 is a glycolytic enzyme expressed in most tissues and calreticulin, known as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident chaperon, has multifunctional responses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of these proteins on the differentiation and functions of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). To identify the target proteins related to the differentiation of BMMCs, we examined the protein expression pattern of BMMCs using 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF analysis. Expressions of FcεRIα, surface molecules (c-kit, CD40, CD40L, VCAM-1), tryptase, and cytokines were examined in BMMCs using FACS analysis, Western blot, and RT-PCR respectively. Enolase 1 and calreticulin were transfected into BMMCs, and [Ca(2+)]i levels were determined by confocal microscope, while amounts of TNF-α and LTs were measured by ELISA. Eight proteins were identified by proteomic analysis. Enolase and calreticulin siRNA transfection inhibited the expressions of FcεRIα, surface molecules, tryptase, and cytokine mRNA, which are gradually enhanced during culture periods of BMMCs. Enolase 1 and calreticulin siRNA reduced the [Ca(2+)]i levels, amounts of total TNF-α, and the release of TNF-α and leukotrienes, all of which are increased in the BMMCs activated with antigen/antibody reaction. The data suggest that enolase 1 and calreticulin are important proteins in regulating the differentiation and functions of BMMCs.

Anti-inflammatory mechanism of simvastatin in mouse allergic asthma model.

Statins have anti-inflammatory property and immunomodulatory activity. In this study we aimed to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of simvastatin in allergic asthmatic symptoms in mice. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin to induce asthma. Ovalbumin-specific serum IgE levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the recruitment of inflammatory cells into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or lung tissues was measured by Diff-Quik staining and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, respectively, the expressions of CD40, CD40 ligand (CD40L), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by immunohistochemistry, the mRNA and protein expressions of cytokines in lung tissues by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or ELISA, epithelial hyperplasia by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by zymography, the activities of small G proteins, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in bronchoalveolar lavage cells and lung tissues by western blot and EMSA, respectively. Simvastatin reduced ovalbumin-specific IgE level, the number of total inflammatory cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and eosinophils into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the expressions of CD40, CD40L or VCAM-1, the mRNA and protein levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, the numbers of goblet cells, activities of MMPs, and further small G proteins, MAP kinases and NF-kappaB activities in bronchoalveolar lavage cells and lung tissues increased in ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in mice. Our data suggest that simvastatin may be used as a therapeutic agent in asthma, based on reductions of various allergic responses via regulating small G proteins/MAP kinases/NF-kappaB in mouse allergic asthma.