Immunomodulatory mast cells: negative, as well as positive, regulators of immunity.
Mast cells can promote inflammation and other tissue changes in IgE-associated allergic disorders, as well as in certain innate and adaptive immune responses that are thought to be independent of IgE. However, mast cells can also have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions. Here, we review the evidence that mast cells can have negative, as well as positive, immunomodulatory roles in vivo, and we propose that mast cells can both enhance and later suppress certain features of an immune response.
Galli
Stephen J
SJ
Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5324, USA. sgalli@stanford.edu
Grimbaldeston
Michele
M
Tsai
Mindy
M
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators