Generation of a human allergic mast cell phenotype from CD133(+) stem cells

Cultured human mast cells are a useful tool for research into innate immune responses as well as allergic mechanisms. Mast cells cultured from peripheral blood can provide information on immune mechanisms of known, selected individuals. With the method presented here eight million mast cells can be cultured from ca. one million stem cells purified from one unit (450 mL) of human peripheral blood. Culture with IgE and IL4 optimizes an allergic phenotype of the mast cells.