title: Mast cell homeostasis: a fundamental aspect of allergic disease.
abstract: Mast cells are well known for their role in allergic disease and have recently been implicated in inflammatory disorders, including autoimmune arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and atherosclerosis. Although aberrant mast cell activation is the focus of many studies, much less is known about normal mast cell homeostasis. Because loss of the normal constraints on mast cell activation, proliferation, and survival may be central to disease etiology, understanding these issues warrants attention. This review summarizes the knowledge of mast cell homeostasis controlled by IgE and the regulatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-beta1. Because each of these proteins plays an important role in immune responses tied to mast cell-associated disease, this group represents a potential set of factors altered in atopic or autoimmune patients. It is interesting to note, for example, that polymorphisms within each of these factors or their receptors are linked to allergic disease. By first understanding how cytokines and IgE regulate mast cell function and survival, we may then predict how these factors may function in disease onset and progression.
authors: Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2012, USA. jjryan@vcu.edu
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: Ryan
authors: Mohit
authors: M
authors: Kashyap
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Bailey
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Kennedy
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: Speiran
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Brenzovich
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Barnstein
authors: Carole
authors: C
authors: Oskeritzian
authors: Gregorio
authors: G
authors: Gomez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D016193:G1 Phase; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000502:physiology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000502:physiology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000032:analysis; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017455:Receptors, IgE; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E