title: Mast cells in allergy and beyond.
abstract: Mast cells (MC) are highly granulated tissue dwelling cells, widely distributed throughout the body in connective tissues and on mucosal surfaces. They are derived from bone marrow progenitors that migrate into the blood and subsequently into the tissues, where they undergo final maturation. Mast cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and activation are regulated by stem cell factor, the ligand for the c-kit tyrosine kinase receptor, expressed on the mast cell surface. They release a large number of pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory mediators after activation induced by either immunoglobulin E-dependent or immunoglobulin E-independent mechanisms. Mast cells have been most widely studied in the context of allergic reactions and parasite infections, but there is now compelling evidences that they are important players in innate and acquired immunity, wound healing, fibrosis, tumors and autoimmune diseases. This review will discuss current advances in these fields.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Puxeddu
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Piliponsky
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bachelet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Levi-Schaffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007110:Immunity, Active / Q000502:physiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit