The Role of Mast Cells in Bacterial Infection

Abstract

Mast cells (MCs) are particularly abundant at host-environment interfaces, such as skin and intestinal mucosa. Because of their Location, it has been hypothesized that MCs can act as sentinel cells that sense microbial attacks and initiate a protective immune response. Several studies have suggested that animals deficient in MCs exhibit a worsened pathology in various experimental models of bacterial infection. However, other studies have indicated that MCs under certain circumstances may have a detrimental impact on bacterial disease, and there are also recent studies indicating that MCs are dispensable for the clearance of bacterial pathogens. Herein, we review the current knowledge of the role of MCs in bacterial infection.

Keywords

mast cells

Published in

American Journal of Pathology
2016, volume: 186, number: 1, pages: 4-14
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

SLU Authors

• Johnzon, Carl-Fredrik

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Rönnberg, Elin

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Pejler, Gunnar

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Uppsala University

Associated SLU-program

Future Animal Health and Welfare (until Jan 2017)

UKÄ Subject classification

Immunology in the medical area

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.06.024

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79428