title: Development of mast cells.
abstract: Mast cells are progeny of the multipotential hematopoietic stem cell (MHSC). Mast cell-committed progenitors (MCPs) leave hematopoietic tissues, migrate in peripheral blood, invade to connective or mucosal tissue, proliferate and differentiate to morphologically identifiable mast cells. Phenotype of mast cells (connective tissue-type or mucosal type) is determined by the site of lodgment of MCPs. Most progeny of the multipotential hematopoietic stem cell lose proliferation potential after maturation, but connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMCs) possess appreciable proliferation potential after maturation. Even after functioning by degranulation, CTMCs proliferate and restore the original morphology. The most important cytokine for development and survival of mast cells is KIT ligand, and the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is expressed through the whole developmental process of mast cells from MHSC to mature mast cells. The loss-of-function mutation of KIT gene results in depletion of mast cells, whereas its gain-of-function mutation causes mast cell tumors. Since mast cells are involved in various disease processes, intervention in development of mast cells might be beneficial to the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Research Laboratories, Shionogi Co., Ltd., Futaba-cho 3-1-1, Toyonaka, Osaka 561-0825, Japan . ; Recipient of Japan Academy Prize in 2005.
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Okura 2-10-1, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan .
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oboki
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kusunoki-cho 7-5-1, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0017, Japan .
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ito
keywords: KIT; MITF; allergy; basophil; hematopoietic stem cell; mast cell