title: Mast cell and T cell communication; amplification and control of adaptive immunity.
abstract: Recent advances in understanding the physiological role of mast cells (MCs) point to an important regulatory role for these cells in adaptive immunity. MCs express a diverse array of molecules that can promote their interaction with T cells as well as with other immune cells. New evidence demonstrates that mast cells can directly and indirectly communicate with T cells. They can control both effector and regulatory T cell responses and their activity can in turn be modulated by these interactions. Here we briefly summarize these advances and discuss some of the major challenges in understanding the communication of MCs and T cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunogenetics, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Alon Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Hershko
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivera
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*