title: Eosinophils interaction with mast cells: the allergic effector unit.
abstract: Mast cells (MC) and eosinophils are the key effector cells of allergy (Minai-Fleminger and Levi-Schaffer, Inflamm Res 58:631-638, 2009). In general, allergic reactions have two phases, namely, an early phase and a late phase. MC and eosinophils abundantly coexist in the inflamed tissue in the late and chronic phases and cross talk in a bidirectional manner. This bidirectional interaction between MC and eosinophils is mediated by both physical cell-cell contacts through cell surface receptors such as CD48 receptors CD48, 2B4 , 2B4 and soluble mediators through various specific granular mediators, arachidonic acid metabolites, cytokines cytokines , and chemokines, collectively termed the "Allergic Effector Unit" (AEU) (Elishmereni et al., Allergy 66:376-385, 2011; Minai-Fleminger et al., Cell Tissue Res 341:405-415, 2010). These bidirectional interactions can be studied in vitro in a customized coculture system of MC and eosinophils derived from either mouse or human source.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 12065, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
authors.forename: Roopesh Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gangwar
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Levi-Schaffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines