Mast Cells Inhibit CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Rejection of a Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma-Like Tumor: Involvement of Fas-Fas Ligand Axis

Problem statement: Mast cells develop from bone marrow-derived progenitor cells and are distributed in the skin or mucosa where they play proinflammatory roles in the first line of defense. Since some tumors in humans and experimental animals exhibited infiltration of increased mast cells, we investigated the contribution of mast cells to the override of tumor rejection. Approach: MRL/N-1 cells are malignant fibrous histiocytoma-like cells established from the spleen of a Fas ligand (FasL)-deficient MRL/Mp-FasL^gld/gld (MRL/gld) mouse and are implantable in Fas-deficient MRL/Mp-Fas^lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice. MRL/N-1 cells were implanted in MRL/gld, MRL/lpr and MRL/+mice after antibody treatments or with mast cells or macrophages and the tumor growth was observed. Results: MRL/N-1 cells were rejected by Fas-intact syngeneic MRL/+ mice in CD8+ T cell-mediated manner. This rejection was inhibited by the co-implanted mast cells. MRL/N-1 cells transfected with FasL were rejected by MRL/+ and MRL/gld mice. Conclusion: Mast cells abrogate the rejection of MRL/N-1 tumor cells and that this tumor rejection is mediated by CD8+ T cells and dependent on host Fas-FasL axis.