title: Immunopharmacology of human mast cells and basophils.
abstract: Human mast cells and basophils play a key role in the pathogenesis of several immunological and inflammatory disorders, not only by producing inflammatory and fibrogenic mediators, but also by directly (CD40 ligand) and indirectly secreting various cytokines and chemokines. Studies carried out to evaluate the effects of drugs that modulate the release of mediators and cytokines from these cells have contributed to clarifying the biochemical mechanism by which immunological and non-immunological stimuli activate these cells. Significant differences have been documented between human mast cells and basophils as regard the pharmacological agents that modulate the release of mediators, between mast cells isolated from different anatomical sites, and between compounds of the same class of drugs. Efforts to gain insight into the biochemical events occurring during immunological activation of mast cells and basophils could lead to the identification of new biochemical targets for therapeutic interventions in several immunological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of Naples Federico II, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spadaro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Marino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aliperta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Triggiani
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013256:Steroids; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D013256:Steroids; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D016559:Tacrolimus