Mast cell degranulation associated with sequestration and removal of Trichinella spiralis antigens.

Mast cell degranulation which occurred following the subcutaneous injection of trichinella larval antigen into trichinella-infected mice was found to be associated with antigen binding by the released granules and with the uptake of granule antigen complexes by phagocytic cells. Similar activity could be demonstrated in vitro, and in addition it was found that living intact mastocytoma and peritoneal mast cells rapidly took up fluorescein-labeled larval antigen and stored it in their cytoplasmic granules as evidenced by perigranular fluorescence. Complex formation between heparin and trichinella antigens as well as other related and unrelated parasitic antigens could readily be demonstrated using in vitro methods. These observations strongly suggest that mast cells play a significant and important supportive role in parasitic infections.