KIT signaling is dispensable for human mast cell progenitor development.

Dahlin JS, Ekoff M, Grootens J, Löf L, Amini RM, Hagberg H, Ungerstedt JS, Olsson-Strömberg U, Nilsson G

Blood 130 (16) 1785-1794 [2017-10-19; online 2017-08-08]

Human hematopoietic progenitors are generally assumed to require stem cell factor (SCF) and KIT signaling during differentiation for the formation of mast cells. Imatinib treatment, which inhibits KIT signaling, depletes mast cells in vivo. Furthermore, the absence of SCF or imatinib treatment prevents progenitors from developing into mast cells in vitro. However, these observations do not mean that mast cell progenitors require SCF and KIT signaling throughout differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that circulating mast cell progenitors are present in patients undergoing imatinib treatment. In addition, we show that mast cell progenitors from peripheral blood survive, mature, and proliferate without SCF and KIT signaling in vitro. Contrary to the prevailing consensus, our results show that SCF and KIT signaling are dispensable for early mast cell development.

Affiliated researcher

PubMed 28790106

DOI 10.1182/blood-2017-03-773374

Crossref 10.1182/blood-2017-03-773374

pii: blood-2017-03-773374
pmc: PMC5659818


Publications 9.5.0