title: Mast cells' integrated actions with eosinophils and fibroblasts in allergic inflammation: implications for therapy.
abstract: Mast cells (MCs) and eosinophils (Eos) are the key players in the development of allergic inflammation (AI). Their cross-talk, named the Allergic Effector Unit (AEU), takes place through an array of soluble mediators and ligands/receptors interactions that enhance the functions of both the cells. One of the salient features of the AEU is the CD48/2B4 receptor/ligand binding complex. Furthermore, MCs and Eos have been demonstrated to play a role not only in AI but also in the modulation of its consequence, i.e., fibrosis/tissue remodeling, by directly influencing fibroblasts (FBs), the main target cells of these processes. In turn, FBs can regulate the survival, activity, and phenotype of both MCs and Eos. Therefore, a complex three players, MCs/Eos/FBs interaction, can take place in various stages of AI. The characterization of the soluble and physical mediated cross talk among these three cells might lead to the identification of both better and novel targets for the treatment of allergy and its tissue remodeling consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Landolina
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Roopesh Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gangwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: francescal@ekmd.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Levi-Schaffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice
keywords: Allergic Effector Unit; Allergic inflammation; Asthma; Eosinophils; Fibroblast; Fibrosis; Interaction; Mast cells