title: The role of mast cells in bronchial asthma: mechanisms and possible therapeutic implications.
abstract: The role of mast cells in human biology is important and complex. They probably play a dual role both in protecting the host and in causing disease symptoms. For example: mast-cell-mediated vasopermeability is an important manifestation of asthma, but it also provides access of antibody and other blood factors which are brought to the tissue and help in defense. Therefore, these cells, with their abundant mediators, may play an important role in both homeostasis and disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029.
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Marom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism