What is the physiological function of mast cells?

Maurer, Marcus; Tc, Theoharides; Granstein, Richard D.; Bischoff, SC; Bienenstock, John; Henz, Beate M.; Kovanen, Petri T.; Piliponsky, Adrian M.; Kambe, Naotomo; Vliagoftis, H.; Levi‐Schaffer, Francesca; Metz, Martin; Miyachi, Yoshiki; Befus, A. Dean; Forsythe, Paul; Kitamura, Yukihiko; Galli, Stephen J.

doi:10.1111/j.0906-6705.2003.0109a.x

Cited by 190 publications

(170 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Mast cells are well known mediators of injury-or infection-associated inflammation; however, recently additional functions for these cells have been suggested. In this respect, reports that suggest a role of mast cells in ECM-related processes during wound healing and fibrosis (Noli and Miolo, 2001;Puxeddu et al, 2003;Maurer et al, 2003) are of particular interest. Specifically, a role of mast cells in the aggregation of collagen fibers (Iba et al, 2004) or collagen lattice contraction (Moyer et al, 2004) has been investigated.…”

Section: Spherulocyte Role During Echinoderm Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spherulocytes in the echinoderm Holothuria glaberrima and their involvement in intestinal regeneration

García‐Arrarás¹,

Schenk²,

Rodrígues‐Ramírez³

et al. 2006

Developmental Dynamics

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The holothuroid echinoderm Holothuria glaberrima can regenerate its intestine after a process of evisceration. Spherule-containing cells, the spherulocytes, appear to be associated with intestinal regeneration. We have used histochemistry and immunocytochemistry to characterize these cells and their role in the regeneration process. Spherulocytes are 10 -20 m in diameter with an acrocentric nucleus and spherule-like structures within their cytoplasm. They are found in the connective tissue of the intestine and mesentery of noneviscerated and regenerating animals. During the second week of regeneration, the number of spherulocytes in the regenerating intestine increases and a dramatic change in their morphology occurs. Together with the morphological change, the immunohistochemical labeling of the cells also changes; the antibodies not only recognize the spherule structures but also label the cellular cytoplasm in a more homogeneous pattern. Moreover, immunohistochemical labeling also appears to be dispersed within the extracellular matrix, suggesting that the cells are liberating their vesicular contents. Spherulocytes are found in other tissues of H. glaberrima, always associated with the connective tissue component. Our data strongly suggest that spherulocytes are involved in intestinal regeneration but their specific role remains undetermined. In summary, our data expand our knowledge of the cellular events associated with regeneration processes in echinoderms and provide for comparisons with similar processes in vertebrates.

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Section: Spherulocyte Role During Echinoderm Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spherulocytes in the echinoderm Holothuria glaberrima and their involvement in intestinal regeneration

García‐Arrarás¹,

Schenk²,

Rodrígues‐Ramírez³

et al. 2006

Developmental Dynamics

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“…9,12 It is generally believed that mast cells induce a fibrotic response via involvement of connective tissue fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. 9,12,15,16 It has been well described that the neuropeptides Substance P and CGRP can cause mast cell degranulation. 8,11,13,14,17,18 Peptidergic nerve terminalshavebeen detectedin close association with mast cells in skin, ligament, joint capsule, and the gut.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Joint capsule mast cells and neuropeptides are increased within four weeks of injury and remain elevated in chronic stages of posttraumatic contractures

Hildebrand

Zhang

Hart

2008

Journal Orthopaedic Research

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The purpose of this article was to determine mast cell and neuropeptide nerve fiber numbers in joint capsules in posttraumatic contractures, as elevated numbers have been implicated in other fibrotic and contracture conditions. Twelve skeletally mature rabbits had intraarticular cortical windows removed from the medial and lateral femoral condyles and the knee joint immobilized. The contralateral unoperated limb served as a control. Equal numbers of rabbits were sacrificed 4 weeks after surgery or 40 weeks after the first surgery that included 32 weeks of remobilization. Six patients with chronic posttraumatic elbow joint contractures and six age-matched organ donor controls free of elbow contractures were also studied. Joint capsule myofibroblast, mast cell, and neuropeptide containing nerve fiber numbers were assessed with immunohistochemistry. The numbers of myofibroblasts, mast cells, and neuropeptide containing nerve fibers expressed as a percentage of total cells were significantly greater in the contracture capsules when compared to the control capsules at all time points (p < 0.0001). The range of percentages for the three components in the contracture capsules versus the controls were 41-48% versus 9-10%, 44-50% versus 11-13%, and 45-50% versus 10-12% for the acute and chronic stages of the rabbit model and the chronic stages in the human elbows, respectively. These data support the hypothesis that a myofibroblast-mast cell-neuropeptide fibrosis axis may underlie some of the pathologic changes in the joint capsule in posttraumatic contractures. Approaches designed to manipulate this axis, such as preventing degranulation of mast cells, warrant further investigation. Keywordscontracture; joint capsule; myofibroblasts; mast cells; neuropeptides Loss of joint motion, or joint contracture, is a common complication following injuries. 1 The joint capsule is a key contributor to the formation of contractures and surgical releases to improve joint motion invariably include its removal. 2 Although the anatomic importance of the joint capsule in the pathogenesis of joint contractures has been known for many years, only recently has there been description of the cellular changes associated with posttraumatic contractures. [3][4][5] It was determined that the myofibroblast, a specialized fibro- CIHR Author ManuscriptCIHR Author Manuscript CIHR Author Manuscript blast expressing the contractile smooth muscle protein α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and associated with contracture and fibrosis in many organ systems, is increased in numbers in joint capsules from posttraumatic contractures when compared to similar tissues from normal joints. [4][5][6] This is true for the chronic stages of posttraumatic contractures in human elbow joints and a rabbit knee model of posttraumatic contractures. [3][4][5] Myofibroblast numbers are increased very early in the contracture process, as early as 4 weeks after injury, in this rabbit knee model. 7 The question remains as to what is contributing to this early and sustained...

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“…25 The central nervous system can activate mast cells through classical conditioning, 26 and induce activation during times of stress. 22,27,28 In diseases such as experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), mast cells may produce chemotactic factors that can recruit nearby inflammatory cells such as T cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%