Accuri C6 Flow Cytometer System
Originally published online as doi:10.1189/jlb.0603275 on January 14, 2004

Published online before print January 14, 2004
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(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2004;75:579-585.)
© 2004 by Society for Leukocyte Biology

The mast cell: an antenna of the microenvironment that directs the immune response

Barbara Frossi*,{dagger}, Marco De Carli*,{ddagger} and Carlo Pucillo*,{dagger},1

* Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, and
{dagger} M.A.T.I. Center of Excellence, Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy; and
{ddagger} S.O.C. Medicina 2, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy

1Correspondence: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, M.A.T.I. Center of Excellence, Università di Udine, P.le M. Kolbe, 4–33100 Udine, Italy. E-mail: cpucillo{at}makek.dstb.uniud.it

Mast cells (MCs) have long been considered as critical effector cells during immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated allergic disease and immune response to parasites. Recent studies, however, suggest that this understanding of MC function is incomplete and does not consider the complex roles that MCs play in adaptive and innate immunity. The added function gives an innovative vision of regulation of immune responses and the development of autoimmune diseases. It had been assumed that the aggregation of Fc {varepsilon} receptor I with IgE and specific antigen is the main stimulus able to induce the MC activation, degranulation, release, and generation of mediators of the allergic reaction. However, MCs exhibit an array of molecules involved in cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix adhesion, mediating delivery of costimulatory signals that empower those cells with an ability to react to multiple nonspecific and specific stimuli. Their tissue distribution and their capability to release many cytokines after stimulation indicate MCs as potential regulatory linkers between innate and acquired immunity. In this review, we will summarize some findings on the roles of MCs in innate and acquired immunity, on the molecular mechanism and signaling pathways, and on selective signals that induce discrete MC response and its ability to polarize adaptive-immune response.

Key Words: signal transduction • polarization • cytokines • Fc{varepsilon} receptor




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