Activation of Mast Cells by Streptolysin O and Lipopolysaccharide

This chapter provides protocols to measure the reversible permeabilization of mast cells by streptolysin O (SLO) and to follow SLO-induced activation of mast cells by monitoring degranulation, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, and production of tumor necrosis factor-α. A method that uses SLO to deliver molecules into the cytosol of living cells also is described. Furthermore, we outline a procedure to measure the activation of nuclear factor-αB by lipopolysaccharide and ionomycin using transfection of mast cells with reporter genes by electroporation. These protocols should be widely applicable in mast cell research.