Mucosal Mast Cell-Specific Gene Expression Is Promoted by Interdependent Action of Notch and TGF-β Signaling

Rodent mast cells are classified into two major subsets, mucosal mast cells (MMCs) and connective tissue mast cells. MMCs arise from mast cell progenitors that are mobilized from the bone marrow to mucosal tissues in response to allergic inflammation or helminth infection. TGF-beta is known as an inducer of MMC differentiation in mucosal tissues, but we have previously found that Notch receptor-mediated signaling also leads to the differentiation. Here, we examined the relationship between Notch and TGF-beta signaling in MMC differentiation using mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). We found that the coexistence of Notch and TGF-beta signaling markedly upregulates the expression of MMC markers, mouse mast cell protease (mMCP)-1, mMCP-2, and alpha E integrin/CD103, more than Notch or TGF-beta signaling alone, and that their signals act interdependently to induce these marker expressions. Notch and TGF-beta-mediated transcription of MMC marker genes were both dependent on the TGF-beta signaling transducer SMAD4. In addition, we also found that Notch signaling markedly upregulated mMCP-1 and mMCP-2 expression levels through epigenetic deregulation of the promoter regions of these genes, but did not affect the promoter of the CD103-encoding gene. Moreover, forced expression of the constitutively active Notch2 intracellular domain in BMMCs showed that Notch signaling promotes the nuclear localization of SMADs 3 and 4 and causes SMAD4-dependent gene transcription. These findings indicate that Notch and TGF-beta signaling play interdependent roles in inducing the differentiation and maturation of MMCs. These roles may contribute to the rapid expansion of the number of MMCs during allergic mucosal inflammation.

Automated summary

The study found that the coexistence of Notch and TGF-beta signaling significantly upregulates the expression of MMC markers, with their signals acting interdependently to induce marker expressions. Notch signaling also upregulates mMCP-1 and mMCP-2 expression levels through epigenetic deregulation of the promoter regions of these genes.