Differential Release of Mast Cell Mediators and the Pathogenesis Of
Theoharis C. Theoharides Differential release of mast cell Duraisamy Kempuraj Michael Tagen mediators and the pathogenesis of Pio Conti inflammation Dimitris Kalogeromitros Authors’ addresses Summary: Mast cells are well known for their involvement in allergic and Theoharis C. Theoharides1,2,3,4, Duraisamy Kempuraj1, Michael Tagen1, anaphylactic reactions, during which immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor Pio Conti5, Dimitris Kalogeromitros4 (FceRI) aggregation leads to exocytosis of the content of secretory granules 1Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug (1000 nm), commonly known as degranulation, and secretion of multiple Discovery, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental mediators. Recent findings implicate mast cells also in inflammatory Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, where mast cells appear to be intact by and Tufts – New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. light microscopy. Mast cells can be activated by bacterial or viral antigens, 2Department of Biochemistry, Tufts University School of cytokines, growth factors, and hormones, leading to differential release of Medicine and Tufts – New England Medical Center, Boston, distinct mediators without degranulation. This process appears to involve MA, USA. de novo synthesis of mediators, such as interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial 3Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School growth factor, with release through secretory vesicles (50 nm), similar to of Medicine and Tufts – New England Medical Center, those in synaptic transmission. Moreover, the signal transduction steps Boston, MA, USA. necessary for this process appear to be largely distinct from those known in 4Allergy Section, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Medical School, FceRI-dependent degranulation. How these differential mast cell responses Athens, Greece. are controlled is still unresolved.
[Show full text]