Mast cell-derived histamine and tumour necrosis factor: differences between SJL/J and BALB/c inbred strains of mice.

Mast cells cultured from bone marrow of BALB/c and SJL/J inbred strains of mice using IL-3 showed distinct patterns of growth and marked differences in their content of TNF-alpha and histamine. Mast cells derived from SJL/J mice grew and matured at a faster rate than those from BALB/c bone marrow. SJL/J mast cells were found to contain more than twice the amount of histamine and TNF-alpha in their granules than BALB/c-derived cells. In addition, when triggered by anti-DNP IgE antibody and specific antigen (DNP-albumin), mast cells derived from SJL/J mice released more histamine and TNF-alpha than mast cells derived from BALB/c mice. These results confirm previous observations regarding a genetic basis for mouse strain differences in mast cell growth rates, and extend previous observations to document differences in mast cell mediator contents. These results are consistent with the concept that genetically controlled differences in the numbers of central nervous system (CNS)-associated mast cells and their vasogenic mediators may play an important role in modulating oedema and inflammation in CNS trauma and diseases in mice.