FIGURE 14.

Mast cell activation of macrophages occurs in AD. (A) Skin mast cells were isolated from BALB/c mice of each experimental group as described. The conditioned medium of mast cells isolated from BALB/c mouse of each experimental group was added to lung macrophages for 8 h, followed by western blot analysis (left). The conditioned medium of mast cells isolated from BALB/c mouse of each experimental group was subjected to PGE2 level assays and histamine release assays (right). ^∗∗p < 0.005. C.M., conditioned medium. (B) Same as (A) except that rat basophilic leukemia cells, equivalent of mouse mast cells, were employed. Western blot and immunoprecipitation were performed. Tissue lysates from BALB/c mouse injected with ctrl. mimic following the induction of AD by DNCB were immunoprecipitated with isotype-matched IgG antibody (2 μg/ml). (C) Same as (B) except that ß-hexosaminidase activity assays were performed. ^∗∗∗p < 0.0005. (D) Skin tissues of BALB/c mice of each experimental group were subjected to immunohistochemical staining. Scale bar represents 100 μm.