Mast Cells as Targets for the Therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The etiology and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is poorly understood. However, numerous studies have demonstrated thatimmunological and inflammatory responses are activated during this disease. Abetter understanding of these events will help identify appropriate therapeuticinterventions. Mast cell hyperplasia is a prominent feature of inflamed intestinaltissue in IBD. Intestinal mast cells are heterogeneous and at least two populationsare present in the human intestine. The authors' objective is to explore mast cellproperties, activation and mediators that are involved in the induction, maintenanceand perpetuation of inflammatory lesions in the intestine. Althoughsome therapies used in IBD can modulate mast cell activities, whether theseactions are important in the beneficial effects of the drugs is unknown. Futuredrug development targeted to the inhibition of mast cells might be of therapeuticvalue. However, a cascade of different cellular events are involved in IBDdevelopment. The complexity of the disease raises difficulties in the developmentof therapies. Multiple drugs, selective for different phases of the disease or actingon different cells, might be most appropriate, rather than a single, all-encompassingtherapeutic agent