title: Role of human mast cells and basophils in bronchial asthma.
abstract: Mast cells and basophils are the only cells expressing the tetrameric (alphabetagamma2) structure of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI) and synthesizing histamine in humans. Human FcepsilonRI+ cells are conventionally considered primary effector cells of bronchial asthma. There is now compelling evidence that these cells differ immunologically, biochemically, and pharmacologically, which suggests that they might play distinct roles in the appearance and fluctuation of the asthma phenotype. Recent data have revealed the complexity of the involvement of human mast cells and basophils in asthma and have shed light on the control of recruitment and activation of these cells in different lung compartments. Preliminary evidence suggests that these cells might not always be detrimental in asthma but, under some circumstances, they might exert a protective effect by modulating certain aspects of innate and acquired immunity and allergic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, School of Medicine, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Triggiani
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: Amato
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Paulis
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003583:Cytokinins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006632:Histamine / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015230:Prostaglandin D2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000276:immunology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D003583:Cytokinins; D015777:Eicosanoids; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D006632:Histamine; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D015230:Prostaglandin D2