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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Investigating Mast Cell Secretory Granules; from Biosynthesis to Exocytosis
Published on: January 26, 2015
Mast cell and T cell communication; amplification and control of adaptive immunity
1Laboratory of Molecular Immunogenetics, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Abstract:
Recent advances in understanding the physiological role of mast cells (MCs) point to an important regulatory role for these cells in adaptive immunity. MCs express a diverse array of molecules that can promote their interaction with T cells as well as with other immune cells. New evidence demonstrates that mast cells can directly and indirectly communicate with T cells. They can control both effector and regulatory T cell responses and their activity can in turn be modulated by these interactions. Here we briefly summarize these advances and discuss some of the major challenges in understanding the communication of MCs and T cells.
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