Mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells cocultured with fibroblasts. Morphology and stimulation-induced release of histamine, leukotriene B sub(4), leukotriene C sub(4), and prostaglandin D sub(2)

Mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC), cultured for 2, 7, of 14 days in WEHI-3 conditioned medium in the absence or presence of mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, were examined morphologically and for their functional responses to IgE-Fc-mediated and calcium ionophore-mediated activation. Coculture of BMMC with fibroblasts induces an alteration in the composition of the secretory granules of the mast cells, as well as an augmentation of the activation-secretion response of the BMMC. The latter property requires that juxtaposition be maintained between the two cell types.