Selective activation of Fyn/PI3K and p38 MAPK regulates IL-4 production in BMMC under nontoxic-stress condition

Mast cells have the ability to react to multiple stimuli, implicating these cells in many immune responses. Specific signals from the microenvironment in which mast cells reside can activate different molecular events that govern distinct mast cells responses. We previously demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) promotes IL-4 and IL-6 mRNA production and potentates Fc epsilon RI-induced cytokine release in rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells. To further evaluate the effect of an oxidative microenvironment (which is physiologically present in an inflammatory site) on mast cell function and the molecular events responsible for mast cell cytokine production in this environment, we analyzed the effect of H2O2 treatment on IL-4 production in bone marrow-derived, cultured mast cells. Our findings show that nanomolar concentrations of H2O2 induce cytokine secretion and enhance IL-4 production upon Fc epsilon RI triggering. Oxidative stimulation activates a distinct signal transduction pathway that induces Fyn/PI3K/Akt activation and the selective phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. Moreover, H2O2 induces AP-1 and NFAT complexes that recognize the IL-4 promoter. The absence of Fyn and PI3K or the inhibition of p38 MAPK activity demonstrated that they are essential for H2O2-driven IL-4 production. These findings show that mast cells can respond to an oxidative microenvironment by initiating specific signals capable of eliciting a selective response. The findings also demonstrate the dominance of the Fyn/p38 MAPK pathway in driving IL-4 production.