Human mast cells express androgen receptors but treatment with testosterone exerts no influence on IgE-independent mast cell degranulation elicited by neuromuscular blocking agents

• Published in: Experimental dermatology Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 302 - 304
• Main Authors: Chen, WenChieh, Beck, Isabelle, Schober, Wolfgang, Brockow, Knut, Effner, Renate, Buters, Jeroen T. M., Behrendt, Heidrun, Ring, Johannes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2010; Blackwell
• Subjects: Anaphylaxis - etiology; Anaphylaxis - immunology; Anaphylaxis - physiopathology; androgen receptor; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Degranulation - drug effects; Cell Degranulation - physiology; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Dermatology; Estradiol - pharmacology; Estrogen Receptor alpha - genetics; Estrogen Receptor alpha - metabolism; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Immunoglobulin E - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; In Vitro Techniques; Male; mast cell; Mast Cells - drug effects; Mast Cells - physiology; Medical sciences; neuromuscular blocking agent; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents - adverse effects; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents - immunology; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents - pharmacology; oestrogen receptor; Receptors, Androgen - genetics; Receptors, Androgen - metabolism; Sex Characteristics; testosterone; Testosterone - pharmacology; Neuromuscular blocking agent; Human; Testosterone; Treatment; androgen receptor; Androgen; Dermatology; IgE; Mast cell; oestrogen receptor; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0906-6705; 1600-0625
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2009.00969.x

Please cite this paper as: Human mast cells express androgen receptors but treatment with testosterone exerts no influence on IgE‐independent mast cell degranulation elicited by neuromuscular blocking agents. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 302–304. :  Women predominate in the anaphylactic reactions to neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA). The expression of oestrogen receptors has been demonstrated in mast cells and oestrogen treatment can enhance mast cell degranulation, but the influence of androgens remains largely unclear. Our immunocytochemical study showed the expression of androgen receptor (AR) in mast cells isolated from human foreskin as well as in two human mast cell lines, HMC‐1 and LAD2. The amount of AR was most abundant in human skin mast cells as determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Treatment of the HMC‐1 mast cells with testosterone or 17β‐oestradiol, alone or in combination with different NMBA, did not affect mast cell degranulation as measured by the release of β‐hexosaminidase. Our study shows for the first time the expression of AR in human skin mast cells. Further studies using primary human mast cell cultures are needed to understand whether and how sex hormones can influence mast cell activation.