Research Article The transcription factor profile of human mast cells in comparison with monocytes and granulocytes

Expression profiles of mRNAs and proteins for various transcription factors were determined for hu- man skin mast cells (sMCs), leukemic HMC-1 MCs, monocytes and granulocytes. By quantitative RT-PCR, sMCs expressed lower levels of c-fos, PU.1, C/EBPa, and C/EBPe than monocytes and granulocytes, but higher levels of MITF, SCL, GATA-1 and GATA-2. At the pro- tein level, MITF, SCL, GATA-2, Elf-1 and c-fos were clearly detectable in sMCs. With the exception of c-fos, these proteins were absent or expressed only slightly