Proteoglycans involved in bidirectional communication between mast cells and hippocampal neurons.

Background: Mast cells (MCs) in the brain can respond to environmental cues and relay signals to neurons that may directly influence neuronal electrical activity, calcium signaling, and neurotransmission. MCs also express receptors for neurotransmitters and consequently can be activated by them. Here, we developed a coculture model of peritoneal MCs, incubated together with dissociated hippocampal neurons for the study of cellular mechanisms involved in the mast cell-neuron interactions.

Methods: Calcium imaging was used to simultaneously record changes in intracellular calcium [Ca] in neurons and MCs. To provide insight into the contribution of MCs on neurotransmitter release in rat hippocampal neurons, we used analysis of FM dye release, evoked by a cocktail of mediators from MCs stimulated by heat.

Results: Bidirectional communication is set up between MCs and hippocampal neurons. Neuronal depolarization caused intracellular calcium [Ca] oscillations in MCs that produced a quick response in neurons. Furthermore, activation of MCs with antigen or the secretagogue compound 48/80 also resulted in a neuronal [Ca] response. Moreover, local application onto neurons of the MC mediator cocktail elicited Ca transients and a synaptic release associated with FM dye destaining. Neuronal response was partially blocked by D-APV, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, and was inhibited when the cocktail was pre-digested with chondroitinase ABC, which induces enzymatic removal of proteoglycans of chondroitin sulfate (CS).

Conclusions: MC-hippocampal neuron interaction affects neuronal [Ca] and exocytosis signaling through a NMDAR-dependent mechanism.