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Molecular and Cellular Biology, September 2002, p. 6363-6374, Vol. 22, No. 18
0270-7306/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/MCB.22.18.6363-6374.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Fer Kinase Is Required for Sustained p38 Kinase Activation and Maximal Chemotaxis of Activated Mast Cells

Andrew W. B. Craig1 and Peter A. Greer1,2,3*

Department of Biochemistry,1 Department of Pathology,2 Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N63

Received 20 May 2002/ Returned for modification 4 June 2002/ Accepted 12 June 2002

Mast cells play important roles in inflammation and immunity and express the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (Fc{varepsilon}RI) and the receptor protein-tyrosine kinase Kit. Aggregation of Fc{varepsilon}RI via antigen binding elicits signals leading to the release of preformed inflammatory mediators as well as de novo-synthesized lipid mediators and cytokines and to elevated cell adhesion and migration. Here, we report that in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells, Fer kinase is activated downstream of activated Fc{varepsilon}RI and activated Kit receptor, and this activation is abolished in cells homozygous for a kinase-inactivating mutation in Fer (ferDR/DR). Interestingly, the highly related Fps/Fes kinase is also activated upon Fc{varepsilon}RI aggregation. This report represents the first description of a common signaling pathway activating Fer and Fps/Fes. While Fer-deficient cells showed similar activation of the Erk mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, p38 MAP kinase activation was less sustained than that in wild-type cells. Although no major defects were observed in degranulation, leukotriene biosynthesis, and cytokine secretion, Fer-deficient cells displayed increased adhesion and decreased motility upon activation of Fc{varepsilon}RI and the Kit receptor. The restoration of Fer kinase activity in ferDR/DR mast cells resulted in prolonged p38 kinase activation and increased antigen-mediated cell migration of sensitized mast cells. Thus, Fer is required for maximal p38 kinase activation to promote the chemotaxis of activated mast cells. Further studies with mast cells derived from fps/fes-deficient mice will be required to provide insight into the role of Fps/Fes in mast cell activation.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Cancer Research Labs, Rm. A309, Botterell Hall, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6. Phone: (613) 533-2813. Fax: (613) 533-6830. E-mail: greerp{at}post.queensu.ca.

Molecular and Cellular Biology, September 2002, p. 6363-6374, Vol. 22, No. 18
0022-538X/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/MCB.22.18.6363-6374.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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