Mast cells regulate the immunological responses causing allergy and autoimmunity, and contribute to the tumor microenvironment through generation and secretion of a broad array of preformed, granule-stored and de novo synthesized bioactive compounds. The release and production of mast cell mediators is the result of a coordinated signaling machinery, followed by the FcεRI and FcγR antigen ligation. In this review, we present the latest understanding of FcεRI and FcγR signaling, required for the canonical mast cell activation during allergic responses and anaphylaxis. We then describe the cooperation between the signaling of FcR and other recently characterized membrane-bound receptors (i.e., IL-33R and thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor) and their role in the chronic settings, where mast cell activation is crucial for the development and the sustainment of chronic diseases, such as asthma or airway inflammation. Finally, we report how the FcR activation could be used as a therapeutic approach to treat allergic and atopic diseases by mast cell inactivation. Understanding the magnitude and the complexity of mast cell signaling is necessary to identify the mechanisms underlying the potential effector and regulatory roles of mast cells in the biology and pathology of those disease settings in which mast cells are activated.Keywords: FcεRI r FcγR r IL-33 r mast cells r TSLP
IntroductionMast cells originate in the BM from a lineage-specific multipotent hematopoietic progenitor, circulate as CD34 + precursors until they migrate to tissues and mature into effector cells in the proximity of organs and blood vessels. Mast cells respond to antigenic stimulation through the cross-linking of immunoglobulin E (IgE) bound to high-affinity receptors for IgE (FcεRI) and the activation of the FcγR after IgG binding (reviewed in [1,2]). Upon activation, mast cells release either preformed, granule-stored mediators, such as histamine and proteases, or newly generated mediators, such as eicosanoids, cytokines, and chemokines [3]. Although the basic molecular mechanisms of Ig:Fc activation have been extensively studied in the past 15 years [4][5][6], new molecules regulating the Correspondence: Dr. Barbara Frossi e-mail: barbara.frossi@uniud.it FcR-signaling cascades have recently been characterized, suggesting not only a still vivid interest in the field of mast cell activation and signaling, but also in identifying putative new therapeutic targets for intervention in mast cell dependent disorders. This review will focus on three aspects of mast cell activation/function. First, we give an essential but complete overview of the FcR-mediated activation in mast cells and report on recent advances in IgE-and IgG-mediated signaling. For clarity, we will dissect and analyze the signals derived from each pathway, with particular attention to the newly identified positive or negative molecular players describing -when possible -their implication toward degranulation and cytokine production. Second, we highlight the growing interest aroun...