“…Cytokines produced by human mast cells include molecules initiating and boosting TH-2 type immunological reactions as well as a broad spectrum of proinflammatory, growth promoting and chemotactic responses for diverse cell types. These mediators include interleukins (IL)-1, 3,4,5,6,10,13,16, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-b, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), special isoforms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and the chemokines IL-8, I 309, macrophage chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, ''regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted'' (RANTES), macrophage inhibitory protein (MIP)-1a, b and lymphotactin (4-7). Human basophils secrete a more restricted cytokine spectrum, with only IL-4, 6, 8, 13 and MIP-1a having been reported so far (8)(9)(10).…”