Mast cells as modulators of host defense in the lung

Mast cells as modulators of host defense in the lung.

Mast cells display a distinct spatial distribution in the lung where they are found preferentially in intraepithelial locations or in deeper tissue around blood vessels, bronchioles and mucus secreting glands. Yet the physiological role of these granule-laden cells is unknown. There are now intriguing signs that their distinctive distribution together with their intrinsic capacity to release la...

Mast cells impair host defense during murine Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.

BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common causative pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia. Mast cells (MCs) are located mainly at the host-environment interface where they function as sentinels. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to study the role of MCs during pneumonia caused by S. pneumoniae. METHODS Lung tissue of patients who had died from pneumococcal pneumonia or a nonpulmonary c...

Mast cells as mediators and modulators of atherogenesis.

The central role of inflammation in atherogenesis has gained broad acceptance and has revolutionized our understanding of this common disease. This recognition has heightened interest in identifying the specific mediators and mechanisms that contribute to the interplay between risk factors (traditional and emerging), inflammation, and the altered biology of the arterial wall that regulates plaq...

Complement-mediated host defense in the lung.

Complement is a system of plasma proteins that aids in the elimination of pathogens from the body. We hypothesized that there is a functional complement system present in the lung that aids in the removal of pathogens. Western blot analysis revealed complement proteins of the alternative and classical pathways of complement in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) from healthy volunteers. Functi...

CCL17 Controls Mast Cells for the Defense