Immunological functions of mast cells remain poorly understood. Studies in Kit mutant mice suggest key roles for mast cells in certain antibody- and T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. However, Kit mutations affect multiple cell types of both immune and nonimmune origin. Here, we show that targeted insertion of Cre-recombinase into the mast cell carboxypeptidase A3 locus deleted mast cells in ...

Current clinical and translational studies have shown that mast cell plays a pivotal role in multiple fibrotic diseases including scleroderma. However, the lack of mature human mast cell culture model exhibits a major obstacle for further dissection of cytokines and signaling molecules required for mast cell mediated fibrosis in various diseases. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor is a mast...

Mast cells are primary effector cells of allergy, and recruitment of mast cells in involved tissue is one of the key events in allergic inflammation. Tryptase is the most abundant secretory product of mast cells, but little is known of its influence on mast cell accumulation. Using mouse peritoneal model, cell migration assay, and flow cytometry analysis, we investigated role of tryptase in rec...

Presence of mast cell precursors in the mouse peritoneal cavity was demonstrated, and the precursors were characterized. When a cell suspension, containing mast cell precursor(s), was directly injected into the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1 (WB X C57BL/6)-W/Wv mice, a cluster composed of approximately 2,000 mast cells appeared at the injection site. By determining the proportio...

Antigen-dependent activation of IgE-bound mast cells is critical for immediate hypersensitivity and other allergic disorders. Recent studies have revealed the effects of monomeric IgEs on mast cell survival and activation. Furthermore, IgE molecules exhibit a wide range of heterogeneity in the ability to induce mast cell activation in the absence of antigen. Highly cytokinergic (HC) IgEs can in...

Mast cells affect brain physiology and behavior. Katherine M. Nautiyal Mast cells are immune cells that are found in the brain. Behavioral and endocrine states increase the number and activation of brain mast cells, independent of the animal’s immune status. Activation causes the release of many neuro-active mediators into the brain parenchyma. However, the function or impact of mast cells in t...

Mast-cell carboxypeptidase A is stored in the secretory granule and is released, together with a range of other inflammatory mediators, upon mast-cell degranulation. Carboxypeptidase A, like all mast-cell proteases, is stored in the granule as an active enzyme (i.e. with its propeptide removed). Although the processing mechanisms for the other classes of mast-cell proteases (in particular the c...

Background & Objectives: Odontogenic cysts are among the most frequent destructive lesions of jaws which their pathogenesis and growth mechanism are not cleared. With respect to different roles of mast cells, they may play a role in the pathogenesis and growth of odontogenic cysts. The aim of present study was to evaluate mast cells in the most common odontogenic cyst. Methods:</e...