Abstract

Mast cells are (in)famous for their role in allergic diseases, but the physiological and pathophysiological roles of this ingenious cell are still not fully understood. Mast cells are important for homeostasis and surveillance of the human system, recognizing both endogenous and exogenous agents, which induce release of a variety of mediators acting on both immune and non-immune cells, including nerve cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and epithelial cells. During recent years, clinical and experimental studies on human mast cells, as well as experiments using animal models, have resulted in many discoveries that help decipher the function of mast cells in health and disease. In this review, we focus particularly on new insights into mast cell biology, with a focus on mast cell development, recruitment, heterogeneity, and reactivity. We also highlight the development in our understanding of mast cell-driven diseases and discuss the development of novel strategies to treat such conditions.

Keywords

allergy; anaphylaxis; animal models; asthma; inflammation; Mast cells; mastocytosis; urticaria

Published in

Allergy
2022, Volume: 77, number: 1, pages: 83-99
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Pejler, Gunnar

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

UKÄ Subject classification

Immunology in the medical area


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14881

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112003