Mast cells and endothelin-1: a life-saving biological liaison?
Over a decade ago endothelin-1 (ET-1) was described as belonging to the assortment of mast cell-derived and mast cell-bound cytokines. Mast cell subtype- and environment-dependent, ET-1 acts as a potent non-immunological mast-cell activator, which leads to degranulation and mediator release. The biological significance of this phenomenon remained obscure; however, a recent report sheds new light on this delicate mast cell-ET-1 connection. The authors of this report use mast cell-deficient mice to provide convincing evidence that mast cells counteract the toxicity induced by high concentrations of ET-1, and thereby promote homeostasis.
Hültner
Lothar
L
Mast Cell Biology Group, Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology and Tumor Genetics, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Marchioninistr. 25, D-81377 München, Germany. hueltner@gsf.de
Ehrenreich
Hannelore
H
D000818:Animals; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D019332:Endothelin-1; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases