Mast cells are widely distributed in various parts of the body, especially in the mucosal surface between the body and the external environment. Mast cell is one of the important immune cells and plays important roles in innate immunity, adaptive immunity and immune regulation. Previous researches have shown that excessive activation of mast cells is closely related to the development of allergic and inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, acute and chronic itching. Mast cells infiltrate into the inflammation site and release various allergic mediators during the occurrence and development of these diseases. Therefore, termination of mast cell activation can be one of the effective methods for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases, and receptors related to mast cell activation are potential targets for the development of anti-allergic drugs. There are many receptors related to mast cell activation, and the effects mediated by different receptors varied from each other. In the recent years, new mast cell receptors are being discovered, but there are not many literatures discussing the possible functions of these newly discovered receptors. This review aims to summarize the receptors involved in mast cell activation and classify related receptors according to their effects.
Asthma ; immunology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammation ; immunology ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; immunology

The present paper reviewed the literatures at home and abroad in the recent ten years; it stated the effects of acupuncture on local mast cells around meridian acupoints and affected area; it stated the advanced development in the possible mechanism of the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for diseases related to mast cells in recent ten years. Currently, the underlying mechanism of the efficacy of acupuncture on mast cells still remains mysterious. It needs further investigations to study the effect of mast cells in acupuncture treatment and the mechanism of the effects of moxibustion on mast cells.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; Moxibustion

The modern studies indicate that there is a close relationship between mast cells and the acupuncture effect, and acupuncture can activate mast cells to induce a series of vascular reaction and immunological effect. The authors hold that acupuncture is a kind of nociceptive stimulus, which can cause inflammatory reaction in the sites of acupuncture, and then further activate the nerve-endocrine-immune network to cause the cascade amplification of the acupuncture effect. The inflammatory reaction induced by acupuncture is one of the initial factors of acupuncture effect.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Humans ; Immunity ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; Nerve Fibers ; immunology ; Neuroimmunomodulation ; Skin ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mast cells and interleukin-9 (IL-9) in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) development and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe expression level of CD117 in tumor tissues of 32 B-NHL patients was determined by Western blot. The infiltration of CD117⁺ mast cells (MCs) in human B-NHL tumor tissues was observed by immunohistochemistry staining. To evaluate the correlations between the data from CD117⁺ MCs and biological markers of human B-NHL, a Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) was calculated. IL-9 levels in sera of B-NHL patients were measured by ELISA. Effects of IL-9 on expressions of functional genes of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of CD117 was upregulated significantly in human B-cell NHL involved tissues when compared with that of controls (0.0551±0.0064 vs 0.0192±0.0072, P<0.01). Infiltration of more CD117⁺ MCs was found in tissues from B-cell NHL subjects compared with that of controls. IL-9 level in serum samples from patients with B-cell NHL was higher than that from healthy controls. Addition of rIL-9 to the culture gave rise to increase in the purity of mouse BMMCs in the first three weeks. In vitro culture experiments showed that the addition of IL-9 could induce the differentiation of mouse BMMC and the expressions of MC-related genes, including CD117, Fcer1α, Mcpt1 and Mcpt5.

CONCLUSIONOur study showed that IL-9 promoted immune response mediated by MCs, and probably played important roles in B-NHL growth. Pharmacological or targeted inhibition of mast cells or IL-9 activity may provide new strategy for B-cell NHL therapy.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Interleukin-9 ; blood ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; pathology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; Mice

The pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis(AR)is extremely complex.In recent years,a variety of allergens and other complexes have been developed to induce a series of signal transduction mechanisms by activating mast cells.Intracellular media release(mast cells,MCs)play an important role in the pathogenesis of AR.In this paper,we reviewed the progress of mast cells in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis in recent years in order to further understand its role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis and provide new ideas on the therapeutic target for allergic rhinitis.
Allergens ; Cell Count ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; immunology ; Signal Transduction

In the present work, we have examined the effect of PAF, removal of epithelium, the mechanism of desensitization, and the substances that increases the level of intracellular c-AMP on the differences of mediator release from superfused tracheal strips after passive sensitization with IgG1 versus IgE Ab. In the passive sensitized tracheal tissues, the effect of PAF and the mechanism of desensitization have been examined by PAF antagonist, CV 3988 and DFP, respectively. The epithelium was stripped from one-half of each trachea by mechanical means. Both superfused tracheal tissues were challenged with Ox-Ag. Inhibitors of mediator release were added into a superfused buffer. Hist released was determined by spectrophotofluorometer, and LT by radioimmunoassay. PAF known to mediate the allergic reaction was not released by Ag after both Ab sensitization. Epithelium removal resulted in similar contraction, Hist and LT release after IgG1 Ab activation, but in the IgE Ab activation, epithelium removal resulted in smaller contraction and Hist release. In the L-cysteine and indomethacin pretreatment after two Ab sensitization, epithelium removal decreased the release of Hist and LT. The compound 48/80 pre-challenge and epithelium removal resulted in the increase of Hist release, but in the decrease of LT release after IgG1 or IgE sensitization. The Amount of LT released by Ag after compound 48/80 pre-challenge increased in the absence or presence of epithelium after both Ab sensitization. Mediator release from tissues sensitized with both Abs was not changed by DFP. The responses of inhibitors to prevent the mediator release were more effective on the IgE Ab than on the IgG1 Ab sensitization. These studies suggest that the tracheal epithelium can act to inhibit immune- and non-immune-induced airway responses. Non-immunological responses may in part reflect the role of epithelium as a diffusion barrier and modulator of mediator release. These data also suggest that immunological responses are related to the localization and functional heterogeneity of tissue mast cells.
Animal ; Epithelium/immunology/physiology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; *Histamine Release ; *Immunization ; Immunoglobulin E/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/*immunology ; Leukotrienes/metabolism ; Mast Cells/immunology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Trachea/*immunology/physiology

We trapped a rat (Rattus norvegicus) infected with Capillaria hepatica. At necropsy, grossly yellowish-white nodules (2-3 mm in diameter) were noted to be scattered on the liver's surface. Microscopically, granulomatous and fibrotic nodules that contained the eggs and/or adult worms of Capillaria hepatica were detected in the liver. Septal fibrosis was diffusely formed throughout the liver. There were a number of ED1-positive macrophages located in the sinusoids of the pseudolobules. On the double staining, myofibroblasts and mast cells were generally observed within the fibrous septa with the mast cells in close proximity to the myofibroblasts. We suggest that the interactions between macrophages, myofibroblasts and mast cells play a role in the septal fibrosis observed in rats infected by Capillaria hepatica.
Animals ; *Capillaria ; Enoplida Infections/immunology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Fibroblasts/immunology ; Liver/parasitology/pathology ; Macrophages/immunology ; Mast Cells/immunology ; Rats ; Rodent Diseases/*immunology/*parasitology/pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore a new experimental method for screening of allergens in post-market traditional Chinese medicine injections by confirming allergens in Huachansu injection.

METHODFirst of all, the serum of patients allergic to Huachansu injection were collected, at the same time, the dubious allergen was conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) by EDC coupling procedure to form complete antigen (BNP-BSA), which makes it possible to reproduce the allergic reaction of Huachansu injection in vitro. The histamine liberation ratio, the level of TNF-alpha and Histamine released from RBL-2H3 mast cell were detected; the above data were compared with those obtained in vivo.

RESULTThe difference of the histamine liberation ratio, the levels of TNF-alpha and histamine of the resibufogenin-BSA group, group of patients allergic to Huachansu injection were not significant compared with those of normal control group. However, there were significant difference in those data among the cinobufagin-BSA group, the blank control and normal control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe allergen in the serum collected from patients allergic to Huachansu injection is resibufogenin.

Allergens ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Amphibian Venoms ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Animals ; Anura ; Bufanolides ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; Histamine Release ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an important human pathogen which can cause a chronic condition with a high relapse rate despite the aggressive antimicrobial treatment. Recent studies showed that intracellular pattern recognition receptors (including NOD) in response to bacteria or bacterial products play a proinflammatory role by activating nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB). But how NOD2 mediates the proinflammatory response to S. aureus in mast cells (MCs) is unclear. So, in this study, we attempted to examine the role of NOD2 in inflammatory responses of MCs to S. aureus. P815 cells (a mouse mast cell line) were cultured. Real-time PCR was used to detect the NOD2 mRNA expression in P815 cells during S. aureus infection. The siRNA against NOD2 gene was synthesized and transfected into S. aureus-infected P815 cells. By using the methods of ELISA and flow cytometry, the effects of NOD2 gene silencing on cell phagocytosis, cytokine secretion, NF-κB activation and cell apoptosis of the S. aureus-infected P815 cells were examined. It was found that S. aureus infection could increase the expression of NOD2 mRNA in P815 cells. NOD2 gene interference in P815 cells reduced the number of S. aureus engulfed by P815 cells, the level of cytokines and the activation of NF-κB. In addition, S. aureus could induce the apoptosis of P815 cells, but NOD2 gene silencing did not affect the cell apoptosis rate. Our data suggested that NOD2 plays a key role in pathogen recognition, signal transduction, and NF-κB activation in the inflammatory responses of MCs infected by S. aureus.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Inflammation Mediators ; immunology ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; microbiology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; immunology ; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein ; immunology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; physiology

To achieve immune homeostasis in such a harsh environment as the intestinal mucosa, both active and quiescent immunity operate simultaneously. Disruption of gut immune homeostasis leads to the development of intestinal immune diseases such as colitis and food allergies. Among various intestinal innate immune cells, mast cells (MCs) play critical roles in protective immunity against pathogenic microorganisms, especially at mucosal sites. This suggests the potential for a novel MC-targeting type of vaccine adjuvant. Dysregulated activation of MCs also results in inflammatory responses in mucosal compartments. The regulation of this yin and yang function of MCs remains to be elucidated. In this review, we focus on the roles of mucosal MCs in the regulation of intestinal allergic reaction, inflammation and their potential as a new target for the development of mucosal adjuvants.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*immunology/prevention & control ; Inflammation/immunology/metabolism/prevention & control ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/*immunology ; Mast Cells/*immunology