Mast cell regulation of inflammation and gene expression during antigen-induced bladder inflammation in mice

regulation of inflammation and gene expression during anti-gen-induced bladder inflammation in mice. Physiol Genomics 7: 35–43, 2001.—First published August 8, 2001; 10.1152/physi-olgenomics.00044.2001.—Mast cell numbers are significantly increased in bladder disorders including malignancy and interstitial cystitis, but their precise role has been difficult to determine. We characterized the role of mast cells on gene regulation associated with antigen-induced bladder inflam-mation in mice. For this purpose, we examined the responses in mast cell-deficient (KitW/KitW-v), congenic normal (1/1), and KitW/KitW-v mice that were reconstituted with bone mar-row stem cells (BMR) to restore mast cells. All mice were actively sensitized and challenged intravesically with either saline or specific antigen. Bladder inflammation occurred in 1/1 and BMR but not the KitW/KitW-v mice. Gene expressio