Regulation of Mast Cell Function by Inhibitory Molecules

描述（由申请人提供）：肥大细胞在IgE依赖性过敏反应和宿主防御寄生虫感染中的作用最为公认。然而，最近的几项研究已经扩大了这一观点，包括肥大细胞在细菌感染的正常免疫反应中的作用，最近，肥大细胞在自身免疫（如关节炎，多发性硬化症）的发病机制中的重要作用。这些研究的总体目标是确定肥大细胞中的抑制性信号传导途径，其可作为治疗自身免疫性和特应性疾病的治疗干预的潜在靶点。越来越清楚的是，肥大细胞活化受到抑制性受体家族成员的负调控。该家族最具特征的成员是Fc γ RIIB，IgG的低亲和力受体。Fc γ RIIB介导的抑制信号在调节免疫应答中的重要性在Fc γ RIIB缺陷小鼠中是明显的，其表现出增强的过敏性应答和自身免疫。最近的研究已经进一步证明Fc γ RIIB抑制信号由肌醇5-磷酸酶SHIP介导。几项研究表明SHIP抑制活性可预防人类疾病。具体而言，在过敏个体的IgE+嗜碱性粒细胞和CML患者的原代白血病细胞中观察到SHIP表达降低。此外，在AML患者的原代白血病细胞中发现了SHIP基因的显性负突变。拟议的研究将利用遗传，生物化学和细胞的方法来确定SHIP调节肥大细胞活化的分子机制。该提议的具体目的是i）剖析SHIP调节Fc受体介导的肥大细胞活化的分子机制，ii）确定SHIP在MAIR-1（肥大细胞中表达的新型抑制性受体）下游转导抑制性信号中的作用，和iii）定义SHIP、Fc γ RIIB、Fc γ RIIB、Fc γ RIIB和Fc γ RIIB的作用。和MAIR-1在使用人类风湿性关节炎的小鼠模型体内调节肥大细胞功能中的作用。这些目标的成功完成将为SHIP调节肥大细胞功能的机制提供新的见解，这可能有助于开发治疗关节炎和特应性疾病的治疗策略。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mast cells are most recognized for their role in IgE-dependent allergic responses and host defense against parasitic infection. However, several recent studies have led to an expansion of this view to include the role of mast cells in the normal immune response to bacterial infection and most recently, the profound role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity (e.g. arthritis, multiple sclerosis). The overall goal of these studies is to define inhibitory signaling pathways in mast cells that may serve as potential targets for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of autoimmunity and atopic disease. It has become increasingly clear that mast cell activation is subject to negative regulation by members of a growing family of inhibitory receptors. The most characterized member of this family is FcgammaRIIB, the low-affinity receptor for IgG. The importance of FcgammaRIIB-mediated inhibitory signals in regulating immune responses is evident in FcgammaRIIB-deficient mice, which exhibit enhanced anaphylactic responses and autoimmunity. Recent studies have further demonstrated that FcgammaRIIB inhibitory signals are mediated by the inositol 5- phosphatase SHIP. Several studies implicate SHIP inhibitory activity in the prevention of human disease. Specifically, decreased SHIP expression has been observed in lgE+ basophils from allergic individuals and in primary leukemia cells from patients with CML. In addition, a dominant negative mutation of the SHIP gene was identified in primary leukemia cells from a patient with AML. The proposed studies will utilize genetic, biochemical, and cellular approaches to define the molecular mechanisms by which SHIP regulates mast cell activation. The specific aims of this proposal are to i) dissect the molecular mechanisms by which SHIP regulates Fc receptor-mediated mast cell activation, ii) determine the role of SHIP in transducing inhibitory signals downstream of MAIR-1, a novel inhibitory receptor expressed in mast cells, and iii) define the role of SHIP, FcgammaRIIB, and MAIR-1 in regulating mast cell function in vivo using a mouse model of human rheumatoid arthritis. The successful completion of these aims will provide new insights into the mechanisms by which SHIP regulates mast cell function which may be useful in the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of arhtritis and atopic disease.