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Overview of Mast Cells in Human Biology

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Mastocytosis

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Abstract

Mast cells are derived from hematopoietic precursors and as mature cells reside in tissues. Mast cells express receptors that endow their function in innate and acquired immunity. In addition to FcεRI, the high-affinity receptor of IgE, and other immunoglobulin Fc receptors, mast cells express microbial pattern recognition receptors; Toll-like and NOD-like receptors (TLR and NLR); Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor member X2 (MRGX2) that recognizes cationic neuropeptides, antimicrobial peptides, and insect-venom peptides; and receptors that recognize molecules associated with tissue damage, such as ST2, the IL-33 receptor. Mast cells are thus able to respond to both exogenous and endogenous stimuli with release of histamine and lipid mediators, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and proteases. Mast cells are potentially lethal cells (anaphylaxis) or can cause tissue damage if their activation is sustained. Mutations, principally in KIT, the receptor for stem cell factor (SCF), lead to excess mast cell proliferation and mastocytosis.

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Abbreviations

5-LO:

5-Lipoxygenase

ADGRE2:

Adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor type E2

or EGF-like module-containing mucin-like hormone receptor-like 2 (EMR2)

CCL2:

CC-motif chemokine ligand 2

CD203c:

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphates/phosphodiesterases type 3 (E-NPP3)

CD25:

α-Chain of the IL-2 receptor

CD30:

Tumor necrosis factor receptor/nerve growth factor receptor superfamily member

CD63:

Membrane tetraspanin protein family member

COX:

Cyclooxygenase

CTMC:

Connective tissue mast cell (rodents)

CysLTs:

Cysteinyl leukotrienes

DJ-1:

Antioxidant protein DJ-1 or Parkinsonism-associated deglycase (PARK7)

ERK1/2:

Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2

FcεRI:

High-affinity receptor of IgE

GAB2:

GRAB2-associated binding protein 2

GEF:

Guanine exchange factor

GPCR:

G-protein-coupled receptor

GPR-35:

G-protein-coupled receptor 35

GRB2:

Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2

IL-2R:

IL-2 receptor

JNK:

c-Jun N-terminal kinase

KIT:

Receptor for stem cell factor

LAT:

Linker of activation of T cells

LTB4:

Leukotriene B4

LTC4:

Leukotriene C4

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

MCT:

Mast cell tryptase (humans)

MCTC:

Mast cells containing tryptase and chymase (humans)

MMC:

Mucosal mast cells (rodents)

MRGX2:

Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor member X2

MyD88:

Myeloid differentiation primary response 88

NLR:

NOD-like receptors

PAF:

Platelet-activating factor

PGD2:

Prostaglandin D2

PH domain:

Pleckstrin homology domain

PI(3,4,5)P3:

Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5,-triphosphate

PI3K:

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase

PKC:

Protein kinase C

PLCγ:

Phospholipase C γ

PTB domain:

Phosphotyrosine-binding domain

SCF:

Stem cell factor

SFK:

Src family kinase

SH2 domain:

Src homology 2 domain

SHC:

Src Homology 2 domain-containing adaptor protein

SOS:

Son of Sevenless

ST2:

IL-33 receptor

SYK:

Spleen tyrosine kinase

TLR:

Toll-like receptors

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Acknowledgments

DDM, AO, and D-K Kim are supported by the Division of Intramural Research, NIAID.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Dean D. Metcalfe

  2. Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA

    Do-Kyun Kim & Ana Olivera

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  1. Dean D. Metcalfe
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  2. Do-Kyun Kim
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  3. Ana Olivera
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Correspondence to Dean D. Metcalfe .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Cem Akin

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Metcalfe, D.D., Kim, DK., Olivera, A. (2020). Overview of Mast Cells in Human Biology. In: Akin, C. (eds) Mastocytosis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27820-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27820-5_1

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