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Review
. 2019 Oct;144(4S):S4-S18.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.10.054. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Mast cells as protectors of health

Anne Dudeck  1 , Martin Köberle  2 , Oliver Goldmann  3 , Nicole Meyer  4 , Jan Dudeck  1 , Stefanie Lemmens  5 , Manfred Rohde  6 , Nestor González Roldán  7 , Kirsten Dietze-Schwonberg  8 , Zane Orinska  9 , Eva Medina  3 , Sven Hendrix  5 , Martin Metz  10 , Ana Claudia Zenclussen  4 , Esther von Stebut  11 , Tilo Biedermann  12
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Mast cells as protectors of health

Anne Dudeck et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019 Oct.
Free article

Abstract

Mast cells (MCs), which are well known for their effector functions in TH2-skewed allergic and also autoimmune inflammation, have become increasingly acknowledged for their role in protection of health. It is now clear that they are also key modulators of immune responses at interface organs, such as the skin or gut. MCs can prime tissues for adequate inflammatory responses and cooperate with dendritic cells in T-cell activation. They also regulate harmful immune responses in trauma and help to successfully orchestrate pregnancy. This review focuses on the beneficial effects of MCs on tissue homeostasis and elimination of toxins or venoms. MCs can enhance pathogen clearance in many bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, such as through Toll-like receptor 2-triggered degranulation, secretion of antimicrobial cathelicidins, neutrophil recruitment, or provision of extracellular DNA traps. The role of MCs in tumors is more ambiguous; however, encouraging new findings show they can change the tumor microenvironment toward antitumor immunity when adequately triggered. Uterine tissue remodeling by α-chymase (mast cell protease [MCP] 5) is crucial for successful embryo implantation. MCP-4 and the tryptase MCP-6 emerge to be protective in central nervous system trauma by reducing inflammatory damage and excessive scar formation, thereby protecting axon growth. Last but not least, proteases, such as carboxypeptidase A, released by FcεRI-activated MCs detoxify an increasing number of venoms and endogenous toxins. A better understanding of the plasticity of MCs will help improve these advantageous effects and hint at ways to cut down detrimental MC actions.

Keywords: Mast cell; central nervous system trauma; infection; innate immunity; mast cell protease; pregnancy; toxin; tumor; venom.

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