Mast Cell: An Emerging Partner in Immune Interaction

Abstract

Mast cells (MCs) are currently recognized as effector cells in many settings of the immune response, including host defense, immune regulation, allergy, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. MC pleiotropic functions reflect their ability to secrete a wide spectrum of preformed or newly synthesized biologically active products with pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and/or immunosuppressive properties, in response to multiple signals. Moreover, the modulation of MC effector phenotypes relies on the interaction of a wide variety of membrane molecules involved in cell–cell or cell-extracellular-matrix interaction. The delivery of co-stimulatory signals allows MC to specifically communicate with immune cells belonging to both innate and acquired immunity, as well as with non-immune tissue-specific cell types. This article reviews and discusses the evidence that MC membrane-expressed molecules play a central role in regulating MC priming and activation and in the modulation of innate and adaptive immune response not only against host injury, but also in peripheral tolerance and tumor-surveillance or -escape. The complex expression of MC surface molecules may be regarded as a measure of connectivity, with altered patterns of cell–cell interaction representing functionally distinct MC states. We will focalize our attention on roles and functions of recently discovered molecules involved in the cross-talk of MCs with other immune partners.

T helper 2 and regulatory T-cell cytokine production by mast cells: a key factor in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease

“…Mast cells were first found to release histamine granules in immediate hypersensitivity reactions; however, recent research has revealed that mast cells are involved in a variety of immune responses, including host defense, immune regulation, allergy, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune disease. 8 In response to IgE stimulation, mast cells secrete various mediators, including T helper 2 cytokines and regulatory cytokines. 9 Non-specific IgE alone can induce cytokine secretion independent of any antigen.…”

Mast cell activation: A complex interplay of positive and negative signaling pathways

“…Mast cells respond to antigenic stimulation through the cross-linking of immunoglobulin E (IgE) bound to high-affinity receptors for IgE (FcεRI) and the activation of the FcγR after IgG binding (reviewed in [1,2]). Upon activation, mast cells release either preformed, granule-stored mediators, such as histamine and proteases, or newly generated mediators, such as eicosanoids, cytokines, and chemokines [3].…”

Mast hücreleri ve aktivasyonu

“…Matsuda ve arkadaşları yaptıkları deneysel bir çalışmada; genetik olarak mast hücreleri eksik farelerde kene enfestasyonuna karşı direnç gelişiminde hata oluşurken doğru yanıtın ancak mast hücre ve IgE'nin beraber varlığında mümkün olduğunu göstermişler ve sonuçta tip 1 aşırı duyarlılık yanıtlarının organizma için fizyolojik bir rolü de olduğu sonucuna varmışlardır 17 . Alerjik inflamasyon dışındaki inflamasyonda mast hücrelerinin rolü Mast hücreleri uyaranın tipi ve özelliğine bağlı olarak çeşitli biyolojik aktif ürünler üreterek, tetikleme ya da baskılama yoluyla, bağışıklık yanıtlarının üzerinde önemli etkilere sahiptir 10 . Bu hücreler doğal bağışıklıkta bakteri, virüs ve parazitlere karşı geliştirilen konak savunmasında önemli rol oynar 14 .…”

“…Mast hücreleri ayrıca ürettikleri çeşitli sitokinler ile B hücre gelişimi ve fonksiyonları üzerinde de etki gösterirler. B hücreleri ile ilişkileri sonucu, özellikle IL-4 varlığında; IgE üretimini indüklerler 10 . Mast hücreleri aynı zamanda antiinflamatuar ve immunsupresif etkileri olan hücrelerdir.…”