Immunoglobulin E, mast cells, endogenous antigens, and arthritis

New aspects of the biology of the mast cell and its associated products may be important to the pathogenesis of arthritis. Mast cells may be activated in human arthritides as a result of a rapidly expanding list of peptides, including cytokines and neurotransmitters. The classic immunoglobulin E-coupled mast cell activation pathways may be used in the autoimmune diseases by way of autoantibody production involving the immunoglobulin E molecule itself. This can be shown to induce mediator release in vitro. The mast cell-derived products may play a role in both the early phases of synovitis as well as the chronic destructive phase.