Mast Cells in Allergic Asthma and Beyond

Abstract

Mast cells have been regarded for a long time as effector cells in IgE mediated type I reactions and in host defence against parasites. However, they are resident in all environmental exposed tissues and express a wide variety of receptors, suggesting that these cells can also function as sentinels in innate immune responses. Indeed, studies have demonstrated an important role of mast cells during the induction of life-saving antibacterial responses. Furthermore, recent findings have shown that mast cells promote and modulate the development of adaptive immune responses, making them an important hinge of innate and acquired immunity. In addition, mast cells and several mast cell-produced mediators have been shown to be important during the development of allergic airway diseases. In the present review, we will summarize findings on the role of mast cells during the development of adaptive immune responses and highlight their function, especially during the development of allergic asthma.

MAST CELL BASICS

Mast cells originate from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells, which circulate as CD34⁺ precursors until they migrate into tissues where they mature to long living effector cells.^1,2 They are present in all environmentally exposed tissues, e.g., skin, intestine and the lung, where they can be detected in epithelium and tissue, often in close proximity to blood and lymph vessels, nerves and hair follicles. In regard of biochemical, structural and functional features, different types of mast cells have been described. In humans, mast cell subtypes are named according to their protease content. MC^T mast cells store tryptase in their granula in contrast to MC^CT cells which express both chymase and tryptase.^2,3 MC^CT are found in the skin, lymph nodes and submucosa of stomach and intestine. In contrast, MC^T appear predominantly in the lung and the intestinal mucosa in close proximity to other immune cells such as T cells.^4,5 Two types of mast cells can be distinguished in rodents: Mast cells which reside in mucosal tissue have been named mucosal mast cells (MMC), whereas serosal mast cells can be found in connective tissue (CTMC).⁶ These subtypes vary in their sensitivity of activation and mediator profile.^2,7

Mast cells interact with their environment by a host of mediators: Some of them are stored in mast cell granula and some are produced de novo following activation. Mast cell mediators can be divided into the following classes; a) preformed substances, b) lipid mediators and c) cytokines and chemokines. Heparin, the neutral proteases chymase, tryptase and carboxipeptidase A as well as amines like histamine are stored in preformed form in the granula and can be released within minutes following mast cell activation. Lipid mediators are generated from arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenases (COX) and prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-1 and -2 to prostaglandin 2 (PGD₂)^8,9 or by 5-lipoxygenase to leukotriene A₄ (LTA₄). LTA₄ can be further metabolized to LTB₄, LTC₄ or LTD₄.¹⁰ Finally, mast cells are a source of a huge spectrum of cytokines and chemokines. Some cytokines can be stored in granules in preformed fashion. For example, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can be immediately released from granules upon activation of mast cells and is also newly sensitized.^11,12

Depending on the type and strength of stimulation, mast cells are able to release different mediator patterns within minutes. Mast cell activation and degranulation following IgE-mediated crosslinking of the membrane bound IgE high affinity receptor (FcεRI) is the best characterized pathway of mast cell activation.^13,14 Crosslinking can be mediated by bi- or multivalent antigens, recognized by membrane-bound IgE molecules or unspecifically through super antigens. Following activation, granules fuse with the cell membrane and release their stored mediators within minutes. The metabolism of arachidonic acid and subsequent release of PGD₂ and leukotrienes follows the degranulation, and finally, the de novo synthesis of cytokines and chemokines is induced.^13-15 IgE-dependent mast cell activation without cross linking of FcεRI is still a controversially discussed mechanism of mast cell activation.¹⁶ During this process, single receptor-bound IgE molecules induce cytokine production even without crosslinking of FcεRI and regulate mast cell homeostasis.^17,18 In addition to the FcεRI receptor, mast cells express Fcγ receptors. IgG mediated mast cell activation via these receptors plays an important role in murine models of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and encephalitis.^19,20 In mice, mainly IgG1 antibodies have been shown to contribute to Fcγ receptor-mediated activation and degranulation of mast cells.²¹ Mast cell can express a variety of Fcγ receptors, and Fcγ RIIB among these shows a negative regulatory effect on IgE mediated mast cell activation.^22,23 Studies in Fcγ RIIB-deficient mice revealed increased anaphylactic reactions and higher susceptibility to allergic rhinitis,^24,25 supporting the role of Fcγ RIIB as a negative regulator of mast cell activation.

In addition to immunoglobulins, mast cells can be activated further by exogenous and endogenous stimuli. Mast cells express a variety of receptors affiliated to innate but also adaptive immunity. Receptors of innate immunity are characterized by their ability to detect specific microbial patterns. Activation via these receptors leads to a fast immunological response, aiming at the quick clearance of the pathogen and induction of a supporting and appropriate adaptive immune response, if necessary. As mentioned before, mast cells reside in every tissue having contact to the environment, and they are one of the first cells which encounter pathogens. So far, the expression of Toll like receptors (TLR) -1,-2,-3,-4; -6, -7 and -9 as well as complement receptors and CD48 have been detected on the surface and within mast cells.²⁶ Depending on the ligand, activation via TLR leads to distinct pattern of mediator release.^27,28

The investigation of mast cell function in different immunological settings has greatly advanced with the availability of mast cell-deficient animals as a tool to analyze mast cell-dependent effects in vivo. Mast cell-deficient animals have an defective c-kit signalling either on the side of the receptor or on side of the ligand, stem cell factor (SCF).^29,30 The SCF/c-kit signalling represents an important step in the development of mast cells. The WBB6F₁-Kit^W/Wv (W/W^v) and the C57BL/6-Kit^Wsh/Wsh mouse (Sash) represent the common used mouse strains to analyze mast cell specific effects. Both strains have mutations in the c-kit gene region, resulting in a defective expression of this receptor.³¹ The W/W^v is a combination of 2 mutations; Kit^W is a point mutation in an exon/intron border, leading to the loss of the receptor trans-membrane region,³² and Kit^Wv is also a point mutation, resulting in a defective signalling of the receptor.³³ Consequently, W/W^v mice are devoid of mast cells. However, W/W^v mice show many phenotypic abnormalities resulting from additional effects of the mutation such as anaemia, infertility, and lack of interstitial cells of Cajal. Moreover, in these animals spontaneous dilatations of the stomach, papillomas of the forestomach, dermatitis and gastric ulcers have been observed. Because of these features, the C57BL/6-Kit^Wsh/Wsh mice have become a most popular choice as mast cell-deficient animals. The Kit^Wsh mutation is a inversion in regulatory elements upstream of the c-kit element.^34,35 Animals bearing this mutation are white and mast cell deficient, nevertheless, they are still fertile³⁶ and not anaemic.³⁷ For a closer analysis of mast cell function, it is possible to reconstitute mast cell deficient animals with in vitro generated mast cells.^38-40 To investigate the effects of single mediators/receptors, the cells can be generated from transgenic or gene-deficient animals. Reconstitution can be performed by intradermal, intravenous or intraperitoneal application of the in vitro generated cells. Following a period of 4-8 weeks, most tissues are repopulated with mast cells.^39,40 These models have helped to further unravel the role of mast cells and their mediators in innate as well as adaptive immune responses and different diseases, including allergic asthma. More recently, new approaches have been used to investigate mast cell models in vivo. Indeed, mast cell specific Cre recombinase-expressing mice have been generated by Cre expression under the control of mast cell protease 5 promoter.⁴¹ These approaches will allow to control mast cell specific gene-expression as well as targeted depletion of mast cells. However, mast cell protease 5 is expressed in CTMC but not in MMC, thus making this model unapplicable in allergic airway disease.

MAST CELLS IN ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY

The induction of an adequate adaptive immune response is essential for a long lasting protection against pathogens. However, disregulated adaptive immune responses are the cause of many diseases; e.g., autoimmunity and allergy. In the last few decades, increasing evidence suggested that mast cells can induce and modulate adaptive immune responses and thereby contribute to the development of different diseases. Dendritic cells (DC) are the most specialised antigen-presenting cells of the body and the most important cells for inducing adaptive immune responses.^42,43 Following activation, DC mature and migrate to the draining lymph nodes, where they act as antigen presenting cells by activating antigen specific T cells. Depending on the cytokine milieu, Th₁, Th₂, Th₉, Th₁₇ as well as regulatory T cells (Tregs) can be induced.^42,44,45 Importantly, in several models mast cells and mast cell-produced mediators directly modulate activation and migration of DC. Indeed, mast cells induce the migration of Langerhans cells from the skin to the draining lymph nodes following activation by IgE and allergen,⁴⁶ but also following IgE-independent activation.^47,48 In models of contact hypersensitivity, mast cells are necessary for effective sensitization,⁴⁹ and especially, mast cell-produced TNF is responsible for enhanced migration of DC from the skin to the draining lymph nodes.⁵⁰ Also in the lung, sensitized wild type (WT) animals show an enhanced migration of antigen-laden DC to the draining lymph node following local challenge.⁵¹

The importance of mast cells for the induction of adaptive immune responses has further been corroborated by studies using IgE-independent mast cell activation. Application of a peptide in combination with a TLR7 ligand resulted in mast cell-dependent migration of antigen-presenting cells from the skin to regional lymph nodes and induction of a cytotoxic T cell response. Especially, cytokines IL1β and TNF produced by mast cells played a pivotal role in this setting.⁴⁸

Mast cell-produced mediators can also activate antigen presenting cells. Indeed, the mast cell produced mediators histamine, PDE₂ and PGD₂ modulate DCs to induce the development of Th₂ responses.^52,53 In addition, mast cells also activate T cells by cell contact-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Through the secretion of mediators, mast cells are able to attract T cells; e.g., to the regional lymph nodes,⁵⁴ thereby inducing lymph node hyperplasia.⁵⁵ Moreover, mast cells are also able to directly activate T cells. Especially, mast cell-produced TNF leads to the activation of T cells.^56,57 In addition, in vitro studies have shown that mast cells can process antigens and are able to present them via MHCI or MHCII complexes. Indeed, the expression of MHCI is confirmed for all mast cell subtypes and has been shown to lead to activation of CD8⁺ T cells in vitro.^58,59 However, the expression of MHCII and upregulated costimulatory molecules remains controversial and seems to depend largely on the culture conditions.^60-63 Interestingly, mast cells can release exosomes, bearing costimulatory molecules and antigen, which causes phenotypic and functional maturation of dendritic cells.⁶⁴ However, many of the described phenomena have been observed only in vitro, and, therefore, it has to be shown that mast cells play a major role as antigen presenting cells in vivo.

HUMAN ASTHMA AND MAST CELLS

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways which shows heterogenous clinical phenotypes. Approximately 8% of the adults and 14% of children in the western world are affected by asthma, making it to one of the most widespread worldwide chronic diseases. Asthma phenotypes are mainly based on clinical characteristics and inflammation patterns observed in the airways. In childhood, asthma is differentiated into transient infant wheezing, non-atopic wheezing and allergic wheezing,⁶⁵ however, the disease may also develop during or after puberty.⁶⁶ Irrespective of the phenotype, asthma is pathophysiologicaly characterized by three major hallmarks; airway inflammation, bronchial hyperreactivity and obstruction. Inflammation is featured by the influx of inflammatory cells; e.g., T cells, neutrophils and eosinophils. The inflammatory pattern of cell types depends on the asthma phenotype, duration and severity of disease, and treatment. In human airways, mast cells can be found adjacent to blood vessels in the lamina propria of airway mucosa. Interestingly, in patients with asthma mast cells also migrate into other structures like airway epithelium,⁶⁷ the mucous glands⁶⁸ and airway smooth muscle.⁶⁹ This anatomical proximity to key structures involved in asthma and in vitro evidence for direct interaction between mast cells and airway smooth muscle cells suggest that mast cells play a significant role in the pathophysiology of this disease.⁷⁰ Mast cells and smooth muscle cells interact in a crosstalk as mast cells can induce TGF-β1 expression in smooth muscle cells via release of β tryptase, resulting in differentiation of the muscle cells into a more contractile phenotype.⁷¹ Moreover, airway smooth muscle cells can enhance mast cell survival in a cell contact-dependent manner and can induce mast cell degranulation, representing a new antigen independent type of mast cell activation.⁷² Nevertheless, mast cells seem not to influence proliferation and survival of smooth muscle cells.⁷³

In patients with allergic asthma, inhalation of an aeroallergen leads to crosslinking of membrane bound IgE via the allergen, inducing rapid release of mast cell mediators such as histamine, leukotrienes, proteases and prostagladins, which can be detected in increased concentration in the broncho-alveloar lavage (BAL) of allergen challenged patients.^74-76 These mediators induce vasodilation, contraction of the smooth muscle and mucous secretion. Moreover, these mediators also lead to the late phase response which is characterized by infiltrating inflammatory cells, eosinophils, CD4⁺ T cells, neutrophils, mast cells and basophils which are associated with swelling of the bronchial wall and increased non-specific airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The important role of mast cells is underlined by studies on histamine and leukotriene receptor antagonists or anti-IgE antibodies, which completely ameliorate the development of the early phase and also partly the late phase response.^77-79

Despite these results, the role and function of mast cells in the initial development of allergic asthma cannot be investigated in humans for ethical reasons, and therefore, animal studies are needed to assess molecular and cellular interactions responsible for the induction and exacerbation of the disease. Especially, rodent (mouse and rat) models have been used to analyze the pathomechanisms of allergic airway disease. These models can mimic many features of human asthma. However, due to profound differences in physiology between mice and men, not all the findings with murine models can uncritically be transferred to human situation. Yet, murine models helped to reveal many pathophysiologically important aspects regarding the role of mast cells in the development of allergic asthma.^80,81

MURINE MODELS FOR ALLERGIC ASTHMA AND MAST CELLS

Using murine models, the role of mast cells in the induction of an allergic airway disease has been intensively investigated. Airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation are comparable between wild type mice and mice lacking either mast cells, B cells, IgE or FcεRI, when animals are sensitized systemically by injection of allergen in combination with an adjuvant and subsequently challenged via the airways.^82-85 Yet, some studies showed that mast cells are necessary for an enhanced influx of eosinophils into the lung,^86,87 for the induction of an increased airway hyperresponsiveness⁸⁸ or for the induction of subepithelial fibrosis.⁸⁹ In many immunisation protocols, aluminum hydroxide (Alum) is used as an adjuvant, which acts via NALP3 inflammasome⁹⁰ and induces a strong Th₂ polarisation in the system.⁹¹ Furthermore, alum has direct effects on mast cells and macrophages.⁹² In contrast, however, studies using sensitization protocols without additional adjuvant showed that mast cells are necessary for the induction of allergic airway disease.⁹³ The important function of FcεRI for development of AHR and inflammation was further identified.^94,95 In addition, using mast cell-deficient animals and engraftment with bone marrow-derived mast cell (BMMCs), the function of mast cell-derived mediators was assessed.

MAST CELL MEDIATORS IN ALLERGIC ASTHMA

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)

Indeed, mast cell-deficient mice which were reconstituted with BMMCs from TNF-deficient donors showed less inflammation and AHR compared to reconstituted animals which received BMMCs from wild type donors.^96,97 These findings have been supported by a variety of murine and also human studies. The expression of TNF is upregulated in the airways of asthmatics in comparison to healthy subjects,⁹⁸ and intratracheal application of TNF in healthy subjects induces AHR and inflammation.^99,100 Murine models confirmed that TNF is important for the induction of mucus gene expression¹⁰¹ and necessary for the late phase response.¹⁰² Thus, TNF-deficient animals fail to develop an allergic airway disease, compared to WT animals.¹⁰³

Histamine

Another important mast cell-produced mediator is histamine which acts on different cell types via four distinct receptors (HR).¹⁰⁴ Depending on the expression level of the receptors and the cell type, histamine can have different effects with pro- but also anti-inflammatory patterns. In regard to DC activation, H1R and H3R induce pro-inflammatory responses with increased antigen presentation, cytokine production and Th₁ priming activity, whereas activation of H2R induces IL-10 secretion and a regulatory DC phenotype.¹⁰⁵ In T cells, depending on the receptor expression pattern histamine can induce the production of Th₁ cytokines such as IFN-γ or Th₂-specific cytokines like IL-4 and IL-13.¹⁰⁶ Recently, it has also been demonstrated that pro-inflammatory effects of mast cell-derived histamine might be mediated by suppressing CD4⁺ CD25⁺ regulatory T cells.¹⁰⁷ In allergic airway disease, Bryce, et al.¹⁰⁸ demonstrated an important role of histamine acting via H1 receptor. Indeed, H1-receptor-deficient animals were not able to allergic airway disease following sensitization and challenge. Especially, H1 receptor-deficient animals showed a defect in T cell migration into the lung. Furthermore, H4 receptor also seems to play an important role in the histamine-dependent induction of allergic airway disease.¹⁰⁹ Consequently, novel H4 receptor antagonists have been developed and have been shown to be effective in suppressing the development of allergic airway disease in murine models.¹¹⁰

Prostaglandins

Mast cells are also capable to synthesize different lipid mediators. Interestingly, animals over-expressing prostaglandin D₂(PGD₂) develop increased airway inflammation and Th₂ cytokine production following sensitization and challenge in comparison to WT animals.¹¹¹ Furthermore, inhalation of PGD₂ just before airway challenge results in worsening of allergic airway disease,¹¹² whereas blocking PGD₂ synthesis decreases inflammation.¹¹³ The effects induced by PGD₂ are dependent on the respective receptor. Two receptors have been described; PGD₂ receptor 1 (DP₁) which has pro inflammatory effects,¹¹⁴ while the function of PGD₂ receptor 2 or chemo-attractant homologous receptor expressed on Th₂ cells (DP₂ or CRTH₂) is more controversial. In allergic airway disease models, CRTH₂ agonists increased airway inflammation whereas the receptor antagonists decreased it.^115,116 In mice deficient in CRTH₂, however, increased numbers of eosinophils and higher amounts of IL-5 were detected following allergen sensitization and challenge, compared to wild-type littermates.¹¹⁷ However, human Th₂ cells which express CRTH₂ show increased production of Th₂ cytokines following exposure to PGD₂ in the absence of costimulation.¹¹⁸ This suggests that blockade of the CRTH₂ receptor might be an attractive approach for the treatment of allergic asthma, and indeed, CRTH₂ antagonists are being tested in clinical trials.

Leukotrienes

Leukotrienes are also mast cells-produced lipid mediators, which affect the development of allergic airway disease.^119,120 Arachidonic acid represents the source material for it's synthesis. A multiprotein complex which includes 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) initiates the transformation of free arachidonic acid to reactive leukotriene A₄ that can be further metabolized to different leukotriene subtypes.¹²¹ LTC₄ synthase represents the key enzyme for the induction of cys leukotrienes (leukotriene C₄; D₄ and E₄), whereas LTB₄ conversion is initiated by LTA₄ hydrolase.^122-124 Several studies identified LTs to be important for the recruitment of T cells^125-127 and dendritic cells.¹²⁸ Moreover, LTC₄ and LTD₄, acting via the CysLT₂ receptor, seem to be important for fibrosis and vascular injury.^129,130 Inhalatory application of LTE₄, but not LTD₄, induces the influx of inflammatory cells into the lung.¹³¹ Taken together, prostaglandins as well as leukotrienes seem to play crucial roles in modulating and attracting immunocompetent cells. Thus, these mediators could be key players in mast cell-dependent modulation of adaptive immune responses.

Thymic stromal lymphopoitein (TSLP)

Thymic stromal lymphopoitein (TSLP) is a cytokine produced mainly by keratinocytes, epithelial and stromal cells. TSLP expression in the lung is upregulated in patients with asthma,¹³² and mice deficient for the receptor do not develop allergic airway disease.^133,134 TSLP was also shown to induce DC activation, leading to a Th₂ inducing phenotype in human as well as in mice.¹³³ Therefore, TSLP is an important factor in modulating adaptive immune responses towards Th₂. Interestingly, mast cells express the TSLP receptor, and exposure to TSLP leads to expression of Th₂ cytokines.¹³⁵ In addition, mast cells can produce high levels of TSLP, following IgE-mediated activation,¹³⁶ and are vital for the induction of TSLP expression following allergen exposure.¹³⁷

MAST CELL AS MODULATORS OF DC AND T CELL RESPONSES IN THE AIRWAYS

Recent evidence suggests that mast cells not only play an important role in the induction of allergic airway disease in already sensitized hosts, but also are involved directly in the induction of specific T cell responses to aeroallergens. Following exposure to aeroallergens, the usual outcome is tolerance, because most allergens are immunologically inert proteins, and inflammation does not develop even following chronic exposure. Resident pulmonary DCs are usually in a state specialized to internalize foreign antigens, but not able to activate naïve T cells. Stimulation of DCs with additional factors like ligands for TLR eventually leads to their activation, migration to the regional lymphatic tissue and induction of a specific T cell response by antigen presentation and increased expression of co-stimulatory molecules.¹³⁸ There is increasing in vitro evidence, that activation of mast cells can modulate the differentiation of DCs to a Th₂ biased phenotype by histamine and prostaglandin secretion.^139,140 Also, several studies in vivo suggest the involvement of mast cells in T cell priming following inhaled allergen exposure. In addition to the administration of a protein allergen, low doses of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce sensitization to the allergen mediated by TLR-4 and production of TNF.¹⁴¹ Indeed, following intranasal challenge with allergen in conjunction with low-dose LPS, mast cell-deficient mice fail to develop sensitization to the allergen, demonstrating that IgE-independent activation of mast cells is involved in the initiation of a T cell response following inhaled allergen exposure.¹⁴²

Other protein allergens, like house dust mite allergens (D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae) have the potential to directly induce rapid IgE-independent release and de novo synthesis of mast cell mediators.^143,144 In vitro assays of D. farinae-stimulated mast cells show that their supernatants attract monocytes and T cells, support T cell proliferation and promote Th₂ cell development. Inhaled exposure to house dust mite can induce Th₂ sensitization and an influx of activated Th₂ effector cells into the lung in vivo.¹⁴⁵ In further support of the role of mast cells in this process, administration of sodium cromoglycate, a mast cell stabilizer, during repeated house dust mite allergen exposure not only suppresses the production of acute mast cell mediators but also attenuates airway inflammation following repeated D. farinae exposure.¹⁴⁴

CONCLUSION

In summary, mast cells play an important role in innate and adaptive immunity. This is mainly due to their ability to produce a variety of proinflammatory and immunomodulatory mediators. Upon their activation, they promote the migration of antigen-exposed antigen-presenting cells to the regional lymph nodes. Consequently, mast cells, at least under certain conditions, are able to strongly promote the development of specific T cell responses and are also able to shape them. In the context of allergic asthma, mast cells have been shown to initiate and promote airway inflammation and AHR in murine models and human disease, which also involves secretion of several mast cell-produced mediators (Fig. 1). Taken together, these findings clearly demonstrate that mast cells are not only mere effector cells during allergic reactions, but also have a complex role in the induction and regulation of adaptive immune responses. In regard to allergic sensitization, the activation of mast cells seems to be an important regulatory step for the development of specific T cell responses to the allergen. Therefore, modulation of mast cell activation could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of allergic disease.

Fig. 1.

Role of mast cells during sensitization to an aeroallergen and during challenge with allergen. Inhalation of an aeroallergen in combination with exposure to an alternative/IgE-independent mast cell-activating stimulus leads to the migration of local dendritic cells to the regional lymph nodes and there to an induction of a Th₂ response. In addition, allergen exposure results in allergen IgE-dependent mast cell activation and leads to an increased chemotaxis of inflammatory cells as well as local T cell activation. TSLP, thymic stromal lymphopoitein; PGD₂, prostaglandin D₂; PGE₂, prostaglandin E₂; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.