Monographs in Allergy

The relation of tissue mast cells to immune reactions, particularly anaphylaxis, has been the subject of extensive investigation and speculation in recent years. It is generally agreed that a variety of pharmacologically active substances are involved in the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis, that many of these substances are stored in tissue mast cells, and that anaphylaxis in many species is mediated by release from mast cells of these substances as a consequence of an appropriate antigen-antibody interaction. This monograph begins with a brief and uncritical review of the literature on these important and interesting relationships. This is followed by a much more thorough treatment of that aspect of the problem that apparently is of greatest interest to the author: ziz., studies on the mechanism of release of histamine from mast cells in anaphylactic reactions. A detailed account is presented of experiments, largely the author's, that support the hypothesis that a nonspecific constituent of serum, a chymotrypsin-like esterase that is very similar to, but probably not identical with, a component of complement is essential for release of histamine. The author acknowledges that, as a matter of convenience, in his studies he used mast cells from the rat, an animal in which the role of mast cell degranulation in anaphylaxis is questionable. Furthermore, because of the difficulty in demonstrating degranulation of mast cells of the rat with the naturally occurring direct form of anaphylaxis, he found it necessary to use the artificial model of reversed anaphylaxis. Consequently, the relevance of these observations to naturally occurring phenomena remains to be demonstrated. This monograph will be of value primarily to those who have an interest in studies on the mechanism of release of histamine from mast cells. It is not recommended for those who seek a basic understanding of the relation of tissue mast cells to immune reactions.