Controversial role of mast cells in skin cancers

Varricchi, Gilda; Galdiero, Maria Rosaria; Marone, Giancarlo; Granata, Francescopaolo; Borriello, Francesco; Marone, Gianni

doi:10.1111/exd.13107

Cited by 69 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 146 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…There is increasing evidence that different stages of tumors can be associated with qualitative and quantitative changes in different types of immune cells in the periphery and center of tumors (146, 147). The pro- or antitumorigenic role of mast cells in different types of melanomas remains controversial (83, 148). Siiskonen and collaborators found that tryptase + chymase + mast cells in perilesional stroma of melanoma play a protective role (43).…”

Section: The Role Of Mast Cells In Tumors Varies According To Their Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Mast Cells MASTers in Cancer?

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Prolonged low-grade inflammation or smoldering inflammation is a hallmark of cancer. Mast cells form a heterogeneous population of immune cells with differences in their ultra-structure, morphology, mediator content, and surface receptors. Mast cells are widely distributed throughout all tissues and are stromal components of the inflammatory microenvironment that modulates tumor initiation and development. Although canonically associated with allergic disorders, mast cells are a major source of pro-tumorigenic (e.g., angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors) and antitumorigenic molecules (e.g., TNF-α and IL-9), depending on the milieu. In certain neoplasias (e.g., gastric, thyroid and Hodgkin’s lymphoma) mast cells play a pro-tumorigenic role, in others (e.g., breast cancer) a protective role, whereas in yet others they are apparently innocent bystanders. These seemingly conflicting results suggest that the role of mast cells and their mediators could be cancer specific. The microlocalization (e.g., peritumoral vs intratumoral) of mast cells is another important aspect in the initiation/progression of solid and hematologic tumors. Increasing evidence in certain experimental models indicates that targeting mast cells and/or their mediators represent a potential therapeutic target in cancer. Thus, mast cells deserve focused consideration also as therapeutic targets in different types of tumors. There are many unanswered questions that should be addressed before we understand whether mast cells are an ally, adversary, or innocent bystanders in human cancers.

show abstract

Section: The Role Of Mast Cells In Tumors Varies According To Their Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Mast Cells MASTers in Cancer?

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, mast cells have additionally been implicated as detrimental players in numerous disorders of non-allergic nature, for example atherosclerosis [3], arthritis [4], skin blistering [5], nephritis [6] and also in cancer (reviewed in [7-10]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mast cells promote melanoma colonization of lungs

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mast cells have been implicated in malignant processes, mainly through clinical correlative studies and by experiments performed using animals lacking mast cells due to defective c-kit signaling. However, mast cell-deficient mouse models based on c-kit defects have recently been questioned for their relevance. Here we addressed the effect of mast cells in a tumor setting by using transgenic Mcpt5-Cre+ R-DTA+ mice, in which the deficiency of mast cells is independent of c-kit defects. Melanoma cells (B16.F10) were administered either subcutaneously or intravenously into Mcpt5-Cre+ R-DTA+ mice or Mcpt5-Cre− R-DTA+ littermate controls, followed by the assessment of formed tumors. In the subcutaneous model, mast cells were abundant in the tumor stroma of control mice but were absent in Mcpt5-Cre+ R-DTA+ mice. However, the absence of mast cells did not affect tumor size. In contrast, after intravenous administration of B16.F10 cells, melanoma colonization of the lungs was markedly reduced in Mcpt5-Cre+ R-DTA+ vs. Mcpt5-Cre− R-DTA+ animals. Decreased melanoma colonization of the lungs in Mcpt5-Cre+ R-DTA+ animals was accompanied by increased inflammatory cell recruitment into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, suggesting that mast cells suppress inflammation in this setting. Further, qPCR analysis revealed significant alterations in the expression of Twist and E-cadherin in lungs of Mcpt5-Cre+ R-DTA+ vs. control Mcpt5-Cre− R-DTA+ animals, suggesting an impact of mast cells on epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In conclusion, this study reveals that mast cells promote melanoma colonization of the lung.

show abstract

“…Mast cells are present in the microenvironment of several human solid and hematologic tumors [13, 14]. In several tumors, such as thyroid [168, 186], gastric [187], pancreas [188, 189], and bladder [190] cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma [191], Hodgkin’s [192] and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma [193, 194], and plasmacytoma [195], mast cells are associated with a poor prognosis.…”

Section: Mast Cells In the Immune Landscape Of Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological Roles of Mast Cells: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum Update 2019

Varricchi

Rossi

Galdiero

et al. 2019

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mast cells are immune cells which have a widespread distribution in nearly all tissues. These cells and their mediators are canonically viewed as primary effector cells in allergic disorders. However, in the last years, mast cells have gained recognition for their involvement in several physiological and pathological conditions. They are highly heterogeneous immune cells displaying a constellation of surface receptors and producing a wide spectrum of inflammatory and immunomodulatory mediators. These features enable the cells to act as sentinels in harmful situations as well as respond to metabolic and immune changes in their microenvironment. Moreover, they communicate with many immune and nonimmune cells implicated in several immunological responses. Although mast cells contribute to host responses in experimental infections, there is no satisfactory model to study how they contribute to infection outcome in humans. Mast cells modulate physiological and pathological angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, but their role in tumor initiation and development is still controversial. Cardiac mast cells store and release several mediators that can exert multiple effects in the homeostatic control of different cardiometabolic functions. Although mast cells and their mediators have been simplistically associated with detrimental roles in allergic disorders, there is increasing evidence that they can also have homeostatic or protective roles in several pathophysiological processes. These findings may reflect the functional heterogeneity of different subsets of mast cells.

show abstract

Controversial role of mast cells in skin cancers

Abstract: Cancer development is a multistep process characterized by genetic and epigenetic K E Y W O R D Sangiogenesis, cancer, inflammation, lymphangiogenesis, mast cells

Cited by 69 publications

References 146 publications

Are Mast Cells MASTers in Cancer?

Are Mast Cells MASTers in Cancer?

Mast cells promote melanoma colonization of lungs

Physiological Roles of Mast Cells: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum Update 2019

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About