Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V22
Höfundar / Authors: Ófeigur Geir Barðdal (1), Kristín Hekla Magnúsdóttir (2), Pétur Henry Petersen (1)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Lífvísindasetur HÍ, Lífvísindasvið Læknadeildar, 2. Dept. Neurology and Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital
Kynnir / Presenter: Ófeigur Geir Barðdal
Mast cells are a central cell type in the immune responses at the border between the body and the external. Mast cells are derived from hematopoietic stem cells and migrate and fully differentiate in tissues, where they are relatively long lived. The Microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf) is considered a master transcription factor of melanocytes and mast cells. Both are largely absent in Mitf mutant mice. We show here that surprisingly the number of mast cell-like cells from Mitf mutant mice varies based on the method of isolation. Fully differentiated mast cells can be isolated from the mouse peritoneum. They are relatively few in number, reduced in Mitf heterozygotic mice, and absent in Mitf mutant mice. Two similar protocols gave identical results confirming previous studies. The isolation of bone marrow and subsequent differentiation of mast cells over five weeks resulted in a much higher number of mast cells (defined as large, granular FcεR1α +/Kit+ cells). Interestingly, smaller mast cell-like cells could also be derived from Mitf mutant mice bone marrow. These cells express FcεR1α and Kit but are smaller and less granular, raising the question whether they represent partially differentiated mast cells or a different cell type. Mast cells and basophils can share a common progenitor cell type, however no increase in expression of basophil marker is detected in the peritoneum. This could be explained by the fact that basophils do not migrate towards tissues. Basophil