Figure 1.

Lin⁻ c-kit⁺ T1/ST2⁺ integrin β7^hi CD16/32⁺ bone marrow progenitors demonstrate mast cell-forming potential independent of FcεRI expression. (A) Bone marrow cells from naïve BALB/c mice were stained with fluorescently-conjugated antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry. The Lin⁻ c-kit⁺ T1/ST2⁺ CD16/32⁺ integrin β7^hi cells were gated and divided into FcεRI⁺ and FcεRI⁻ populations. The cells were FACS-sorted in to wells containing media supplemented with a myelo-erythroid cytokine cocktail. (B,C) After four and eight days of culture, the progenies were analyzed for their surface expression of FcεRI, c-kit, and DX5. The graphs shown are representative of two independent experiments analyzed days four and eight.