Mast cells and their degranulation in the Tsk mouse model of scleroderma.
The Tsk mouse is a genetically transmitted example of cutaneous fibrosis which has been compared with human scleroderma. During a systematic histopathological study of the Tsk mouse, both an increased number and an increased proportion of degranulated mast cells were observed. The consistent association of mast cells and fibrosis in scleroderma, graft-vs-host reactions (GVHR), and now the Tsk mouse raises the question of a pathogenetic role for mast cells in fibrotic disorders in general.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*