Synergistic effect of SCF and TNF-α on the up-regulation of cell-surface expression of ICAM-1 on human leukemic mast cell line (HMC)-1 cells

Abstract

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been shown to play crucial roles in mast cell interaction with other inflammatory cells and recruitment into the inflamed tissue. In the present study, human mast cell line-1 (HMC-1) was stimulated with different cytokines including stem cell factor (SCF), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-13, IL-18, and IL-25. Cell-surface expression of ICAM-1 was assessed by flow cytometry. To elucidate the intracellular signal transduction regulating the ICAM-1 expression, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB translocation were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results showed that SCF, TNF-κB, and IL-13 but not IL-18 and IL-25 could up-regulate the surface expression of ICAM-1 on HMC-1 cells. A synergistic effect of SCF and TNF-α on ICAM-1 expression was demonstrated. This synergistic effect was shown to be dose-dependently enhanced by SCF but not TNF-α. Results indicated that SCF activated ERK, and TNF-α activated the p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathway. Selective inhibitor of ERK, PD098059, and c-kit inhibitors, STI571 and PP1, suppressed the combined SCF and TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression. BAY117082 but not SB203580, which are the inhibitors of NF-κB and p38 MAPK, respectively, suppressed the TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression. Therefore, SCF and TNF-α acted through ERK and the NF-κB pathway to regulate the ICAM-1 expression and elicited the synergistic effect. In conclusion, our results provide insight for cross-talk between different signaling pathways that can help in understanding the fine control of adhesion molecule expression under the concerted effects of cytokines. © Society for Leukocyte Biology.