SCF promotes the production of IL-13 via the MEK-ERK-CREB signaling pathway in mast cells

Mast cells serve a key role in the occurrence and development of allergy. As an important growth factor of mast cells, stem cell factor (SCF) has an effect on the apoptosis, chemotaxis, adhesion, degranulation and other biological characteristics of mast cells. However, there are few studies regarding the effect of SCF signal on the production of cytokines from mast cells, particularly Th2 type cytokines. In the present study, the expression and secretion of IL-13 in P815 cells stimulated by SCF were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR and ELISA, and western blotting and EMSA were used to detect ERK phosphorylation and activation of CREB in stimulated P815 cells. The results demonstrated that the production of IL-13 was significantly increased in P815 cells stimulated by SCF (1–100 ng/ml; P<0.01). There was an obvious phosphorylation of ERK and CREB activation in P815 cells stimulated by SCF (50 ng/ml). Compared with the SCF single stimulation group, the production of IL-13 was significantly reduced in P815 cells stimulated with U0126 (ERK-MEK/pathway inhibitor) or H-89 (CREB inhibitor) combined with SCF stimulation group (P<0.01). However, JSI-124 (JAK/STAT3 pathway inhibitor), Wortmannin (PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor) and PDTC (NF-κB inhibitor) had no effect on the role of SCF promoting the P815 cells producing IL-13. Therefore, SCF signaling promotes mast cell P815 to produce IL-13, and this effect is associated with the MEK-ERK-CREB signaling pathway.