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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
16:01
Investigating Mast Cell Secretory Granules; from Biosynthesis to Exocytosis
Published on: January 26, 2015
Immunopathology and human mast cell cytokines
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
|August 19, 1999
Summary
Mast cells, once thought to only cause allergies, are now known to have complex roles in health and disease. Their diverse products and widespread distribution enable them to influence many cell types and biological events.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mast cells were traditionally viewed as solely involved in allergic reactions via IgE cross-linking.
- Emerging research indicates a more complex role for mast cells in both health and disease states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted functions of mast cells beyond allergic responses.
- To understand how mast cell products influence various cell types and biological processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mast cell biology and products.
- Analysis of the distribution and secretory capabilities of human mast cells.
Main Results:
- Human mast cells secrete a wide array of pleiotropic cytokines, lipid mediators, proteases, and proteoglycans.
- Mast cells are strategically located in connective tissues, near epithelial surfaces and blood vessels.
Conclusions:
- Mast cell activation is more complex than the 'all-or-nothing' IgE-mediated model.
- The diverse products and tissue distribution of mast cells allow them to impact numerous cell types, including fibroblasts, epithelial cells, nerves, and vascular cells, contributing to a wide range of biological events.
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