The ingenious mast cell: Contemporary insights into mast cell behavior and function

Abstract

Mast cells are (in)famous for their role in allergic diseases, but the physiological and pathophysiological roles of this ingenious cell are still not fully understood. Mast cells are important for homeostasis and surveillance of the human system, recognizing both endogenous and exogenous agents, which induce release of a variety of mediators acting on both immune and non-immune cells, including nerve cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and epithelial cells. During recent years, clinical and experimental studies on human mast cells, as well as experiments using animal models, have resulted in many discoveries that help decipher the function of mast cells in health and disease. In this review, we focus particularly on new insights into mast cell biology, with a focus on mast cell development, recruitment, heterogeneity, and reactivity. We also highlight the development in our understanding of mast cell-driven diseases and discuss the development of novel strategies to treat such conditions.

Nutraceutical Aid for Allergies – Strategies for Down-Regulating Mast Cell Degranulation

“…The clinical presentation is wide, involving respiratory, neurologic, digestive, cardiovascular, cutaneous and even musculoskeletal symptoms. 1 Mast cells contribute to the pathogenesis of infection, cancer, cardiovascular and many other systemic diseases. 2 Notably, not only in pathologic conditions, they can play an immunomodulatory role, by secreting anti-antiinflammatory mediators, and thereby impacting the interaction between the immune cells and the environment.…”

“…2 Notably, not only in pathologic conditions, they can play an immunomodulatory role, by secreting anti-antiinflammatory mediators, and thereby impacting the interaction between the immune cells and the environment. [1][2][3] Mast cells are endowed with a wide range of plasma membrane receptors, enabling them to sense and react to a plethora of stimuli. The chief receptor triggering mast cell degranulation is the high-affinity IgE receptor FcεRI (Figure 1).…”

“…A more recently described mast cell receptor capable of provoking degranulation is the Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2), which responds to a range of basic peptides and small proteins, resulting in allergic or neurologic inflammations, pain and itch; hence, there are more receptors that react to drugs, cytokines, complement anaphylatoxins, physical triggers and physical stimuli. 1,4 Upon sensing endogenous or exogenous danger signals, the activated mast cell releases mediators by three mechanisms. The immediate and rapid one is exocytosis of secretory granules containing pre-synthesized molecules, including histamine, various proteases, heparin, cysteinyl leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and certain proteoglycans.…”

“…Finally, activated mast cells can secrete extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes, thereby exteriorizing cellular proteins, enzymes, RNAs and miRNAs to the extracellular compartment. 1…”

Editorial: Cytomegalovirus Pathogenesis and Host Interactions

“…Mast cells are part of the innate immune system, acting as firstline sentinels for environmental antigens, but also provide a link to the adaptive immune system by secreting chemokines that recruit CD8+ T-cells to sites of infection (Podlech et al, 2015;Dahlin et al, 2021). Schmiedeke et al reveal an unanticipated function of the viral mitochondria-localized inhibitor of apoptosis (vMIA) m38.5, encoded by MCMV, in inducing mast cell degranulation.…”