Increased activity of secretory phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)) type-II was previously observed in ileum of Crohn's disease (CD). Our aims were to explore the involvement of calcium-independent (i)PLA(2 beta) in the release of sPLA(2)s from the human mast cell (MC) line (HMC-1) and investigate expressions of cytosolic (c)PLA(2) alpha, iPLA(2)beta, sPLA(2)-IIA and sPLA(2)-V in MCs of CD ileum. The release of sPLA(2) was investigated in HMC-1 by immunocytochemistry and ELISA. The expression intensities of PLA(2)s in mucosal MCs, and the proportion of PLA(2)-positive MCs, were investigated in normal ileum and in ileum from patients with CD by immunohistochemistry. The calcium ionophore-stimulated release of sPLA(2)-IIA and sPLA(2)-V from HMC-1 was reduced by the iPLA(2)-inhibitor bromoenol lactone. All four PLA(2)s were detectable in mucosal MCs, both in normal ileum and in CD, but the proportion of iPLA(2)beta-containing mucosal MCs and the expression intensity of sPLA(2)-IIA was increased in CD. Results indicate that iPLA(2)beta is involved in the secretion of sPLA(2)s from HMC-1, and suggest that iPLA(2)beta-mediated release of sPLA(2) from intestinal MCs may contribute to CD pathophysiology. Ex vivo studies on isolated mucosal mast cells are however needed to clarify the precise role of MC PLA(2)s in the inflammatory processes of CD.