Methods for Culturing Human Lung Mast Cells and Uses Thereof

Abstract

Methods for culturing human lung mast cells in the absence of co-culture with feeder cells which are viable for longer than 4 days are provided. Also provided are methods for using these human lung mast cell cultures to assess biological and pharmacological activities of these cells in vivo and to identify modulators of the survival, proliferation, function and phenotypic expression of human lung mast cells. Modulators identified via these cells are useful in the prevention and treatment of diseases involving human lung mast cell function.

1 . A method for determining pharmacological and biochemical activities of human lung mast cells in vivo comprising assessing pharmacological and biochemical activities of human mast cell cultures in vitro, said human mast cell cultures being partially purified from human lung tissue and cultured in the presence of a growth factor. 
   
   
       2 . A method for identifying modulators of human lung mast cell survival, proliferation, function or phenotypic expression comprising:
 (a) determining survival, proliferation, function or phenotypic expression of human lung mast cells in the presence of a potential modulator, said human mast cell cultures being partially purified from human lung tissue and cultured in the presence of a growth factor; and   (b) comparing the determined survival, proliferation, function or phenotypic expression to said human lung mast cells in the absence of the potential modulator, wherein the modulator is identified by an increase or decrease in survival, proliferation, function or phenotypic expression of said human lung mast cells in its presence.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the identified modulator comprises a small inorganic molecule, a protein or fragments thereof, a pharmacologic agent, or a biological compound. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the identified modulator is useful in the prevention or treatment of diseases involving human lung mast cell function. 
   
   
       5 . A modulator of human lung mast cell survival, proliferation, function or phenotypic expression identified in accordance with the method of  claim 2 . 
   
   
       6 . A method of modulating human lung mast cell function comprising contacting human lung mast cells with the modulator of  claim 5 . 
   
   
       7 . A method of preventing or treating diseases involving human lung mast cell function comprising administering to a patient suffering from a disease involving human lung mast cell function the modulator of  claim 5 . 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the disease to be prevented or treated is allergic hypersensitivity, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, a local inflammatory process or a fibrosing lung disorder.