RECONSTITUTION OF MUCOSAL MAST-CELLS IN W/WV MICE BY ADOPTIVE TRANSFER OF BONE MARROW-DERIVED CULTURED MAST-CELLS AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE PROTECTIVE CAPACITY TO STRONGYLOIDES-RATTI-INFECTION

Bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMMC) were transferred intravenously into W/Wv mice to examine if they could reconstitute defective mucosal mast cell response or defective protective capacity against infection with Strongyloides ratti. When mast cell growth factor-producing activity of W/Wv mice were examined, mesenteric lymph node cells obtained at 7 to 14 days after infection could produce this factor in vitro by stimulation with S. ratti-adult worm antigen. A single injection of BMMC (1 .times. 107) on day 7 post-infection (p.i.) neither caused an increase in number of intestinal mucosal mast cells not altered the kinetics of faecal larval output (LPG). On the other hand, serial injections of BMMC (5 .times. 106) from day 5 to 10 p.i. (total 3 .times. 107 cells) resulted in the significant increase in number of intestinal mucosal mast cells. However, this treatment too could not alter the kinetics of LPG. Therefore, adoptive transfer of BMMC could cause the increase in number of histologically detectable-mucosal mast cells, but these cells are, by themselves, not sufficient to cause the expulsion of S. ratti adult worms from the intestine.