title: Mast cells in asthma--state of the art.
abstract: Mast cells (MCs) play a central role in tissue homoeostasis, sensing the local environment through numerous innate cell surface receptors. This enables them to respond rapidly to perceived tissue insults with a view to initiating a co-ordinated programme of inflammation and repair. However, when the tissue insult is chronic, the ongoing release of multiple pro-inflammatory mediators, proteases, cytokines and chemokines leads to tissue damage and remodelling. In asthma, there is strong evidence of ongoing MC activation, and their mediators and cell-cell signals are capable of regulating many facets of asthma pathophysiology. This article reviews the evidence behind this.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Institute for Lung Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bradding
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Institute for Lung Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arthur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*