MAST CELLS AS “TUNABLE” EFFECTOR AND IMMUNOREGULATORY CELLS: Recent Advances

This review focuses on recent progress in our understanding of how mast cells can contribute to the initiation, development, expression, and regulation of acquired immune responses, both those associated with IgE and those that are apparently expressed independently of this class of Ig. We emphasize findings derived from in vivo studies in mice, particularly those employing genetic approaches to influence mast cell numbers and/or to alter or delete components of pathways that can regulate mast cell development, signaling, or function. We advance the hypothesis that mast cells not only can function as proinflammatory effector cells and drivers of tissue remodeling in established acquired immune responses, but…

• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
• NH
  National Health and Medical Research Council
• NM
  National Medical Research Council