Work

Differential quantal release of histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine from mast cells of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 knockout mice

Year: 2000

Type: article

Abstract: The recent availability of mice lacking the neuronal form of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) affords the opportunity to study its roles in storage and release. Carbon fiber microelectrodes were used to measure individual secretory events of histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from VMAT2-expressing mast cells as a model system for quantal release. VMAT2 is indispensable for monoamine storage because mast cells from homozygous (VMAT2(-/-)) mice, while undergoing granule-cell fusion, do not release monoamines. Cells from heterozygous animals (VMAT2(+/-)) secrete lower amounts of monoamine per granule than cells from wild-type controls. Investigation of corelease of histamine and 5-HT from granules in VMAT2(+/-) cells revealed 5-HT quantal size was reduced more than that of histamine. Thus, although vesicular transport is the limiting factor determining quantal size of 5-HT and histamine release, intragranular association with the heparin matrix also plays a significant role.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.97.1.162

Authors: Eric R. Travis, Yan-Min Wang, Darren J. Michael, Marc G. Caron, R. Mark Wightman

Institutions: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Duke Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Mast cells and histamine

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Bristol-Myers Squibb, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke