Mast Cells in Allergic Diseases

The discovery of IgE and its association with mast cell histamine release provided the initial understanding of the role of mast cells in asthma and acute allergic reactions. However, mast cells are now recognized as tissue-dwelling effector cells that play multiple roles not only in immediate-type allergic reaction but also in innate immunity, inflammation, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling. Mast cells produce a variety of lipid mediators, chemokines, cytokines, and enzymes that may interact