MIGRATION OF STROMAL CELLS SUPPORTING MAST-CELL DIFFERENTIATION INTO OPEN WOUND PRODUCED IN THE SKIN OF MICE

Abstract

Mutant mice of Sl/Sld genotype are depleted of tissue mast cells due to a defect of stromal cells which may support mast cell differentiation. Mast cell numbers did not increase in the skin of Sl/Sld mice grafted on the back of the congenic +/+ mice even 50 wk after the transplantation. When the wound was produced in the central part of the Sl/Sld skin graft, a considerable number of mast cells appeared within the scar resulting from the wound. Mast cell appearance in the scar was due to circulating precursor differentiation into mast cells rather than mature mast cell migration shown by using giant granules of bgJ/bgJ mice as a marker for newly-formed mast cells. Apparently normal stromal cells of the +/+ host origin migrate into the wound produced in the grafted skin of Sl/Sld mice and support the circulating precursor differentiation into mast cells.