The effect of PU.1 knockdown on gene expression and function of mast cells

PU.1 is a hematopoietic cell-specific transcription factor. In the current study, we investigated the role of PU.1 in the gene expression and the function of mouse mast cells (MCs) in vitro and in vivo. When PU.1 siRNA was introduced into bone marrow-derived MCs (BMMCs), IgE-mediated activation was reduced, and the Syk and FcϵRIβ mRNA levels were significantly decreased. As the regulatory mechanism of the Syk gene is largely unknown, we performed promoter analysis and found that PU.1 transactivated the Syk promoter through direct binding to a cis-element in the 5′-untranslated region. The involvement of PU.1 in the Syk promoter was also observed in mouse dendritic cells and human MCs, suggesting that the relationship between PU.1 and Syk is common in mammals and in hematopoietic lineages. When antigen was administrated intravenously after the transfusion of siRNA-transfected BMMCs in the mouse footpad, the footpad thickening was significantly suppressed by PU.1 knockdown. Finally, administration of the immunomodulator pomalidomide suppressed passive systemic anaphylaxis of mice. Taken together, these results indicate that PU.1 knockdown might be an efficacious strategy for the prevention of MC-mediated allergic diseases.