The rat mucosal mast cell chymase, RMCP-II, alters epithelial cellmonolayer permeability in association with altered distribution of thetight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin

摘要

Mucosal mast cells undergo hyperplasia in a variety of inflammatory bowel diseases including nematode infection in man and animals. The intra-epithelial localization of these cells make their soluble mediators prime candidates for modulators of epithelial function. In particular previous in vivo and ex vivo studies have established a link between the release of the highly soluble mast cell granule chymases and increased mucosal permeability: The hypothesis that the rat mast cell protease, RMCP-II, directly increases permeability to macromolecules via the paracellular route is tested in this study. Monolayers of epithelial cells (Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line) were exposed to varying concentrations of RR ICP-II in vitro, in the absence of other cell types or mediators, and the effect on permeability and tight junction associated proteins was investigated.