Elsevier

Mucosal Immunology

Volume 3, Issue 2, March 2010, Pages 111-128
Mucosal Immunology

Article
Advances in mast cell biology: new understanding of heterogeneity and function

https://doi.org/10.1038/mi.2009.136Get rights and content
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Abstract

Mast cells are classically viewed as effector cells of IgE-mediated allergic diseases. However, over the last decade our understanding has been enriched about their roles in host defense, innate and adaptive immune responses, and in homeostatic responses, angiogenesis, wound healing, tissue remodeling, and immunoregulation. Despite impressive progress, there are large gaps in our understanding of their phenotypic heterogeneity, regulatory mechanisms involved, and functional significance. This review summarizes our knowledge of mast cells in innate and acquired immunity, allergic inflammation and tissue homeostasis, as well as some of the regulatory mechanisms that control mast cell development, phenotypic determination, and function, particularly in the context of mucosal surfaces.

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DISCLOSURE

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Supplementary information The online version of this article (doi:10.1038/mi.2009.136) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.