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Advances in the understanding of mast cell function
Author(s) -
Heib Valeska,
Becker Marc,
Taube Christian,
Stassen Michael
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2008.07244.x
Subject(s) - proteases , mast cell , innate immune system , immunology , acquired immune system , immune system , immunity , immunoglobulin e , biology , chemokine , degranulation , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , receptor , enzyme , biochemistry
Summary Mast cells were formerly thought to contribute mainly to, sometimes even, fatal allergic reactions through the release of biologically highly active cytokines, chemokines, lipid mediators, proteases and biogenic amines. This potential harmful response is triggered by crosslinking of cell‐bound IgE by the respective allergen. This review updates our current understanding of the emerging roles of mast cells with an emphasis on their relevance in protective host immunity. The activation of mast cells independently of Immunoglobulin E can lead to the initiation of fast inflammatory reactions, which were shown to be life‐saving in murine models of bacterial infections. Besides their critical functions in innate immunity, mast cells promote and shape the development of adaptive immune responses. Thus, mast cells are increasingly being recognized as sentinels of innate and modulators of adaptive immunity.

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