Beyond allergy: the role of mast cells in fibrosis

Mast cells are tissue-bound cells of the innate immune system which are well known for immunoglobuline (Ig)E-triggered degranulation in allergic reactions. More recently, an important role of mast cells has been described in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders which are often associa...

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Main Author: Thomas Hügle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) 2014-08-01
Series:Swiss Medical Weekly
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1900
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author Thomas Hügle
author_facet Thomas Hügle
author_sort Thomas Hügle
collection DOAJ
description Mast cells are tissue-bound cells of the innate immune system which are well known for immunoglobuline (Ig)E-triggered degranulation in allergic reactions. More recently, an important role of mast cells has been described in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders which are often associated with fibrosis or sclerosis. Innate immune receptors such as Fc-, toll-like- or NOD-like receptors stimuli can trigger mast cell degranulation and enhance immunological danger signals. Whereas fulminant degranulation of mast cell vesicles is observed in anaphylaxis, piecemeal degranulation or transgranulation are mechanisms for a slower release of their granula. A cocktail of cytokines, growth factors and proteoglycans is produced and stored in granula of mast cells. Mast cells are a substantial reservoir of both preformed inflammatory factors (i.e., TNF-alpha and IL-17) and factors that can trigger a profibrotic, Th-2–polarised inflammation (i.e., IL-4 and IL-10). In systemic sclerosis, mast cell vesicles are the main source of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. Cell-to-cell contact between mast cells and fibroblasts occurs in the affected tissue, supporting the hypothesis that transgranulation might be an important mechanism in fibrosis. The direct release of proteoglycans such as hyaluronic acid into the interstitial space is a further stimulus for matrix remodelling. Mast cell hyperactivity has also been demonstrated in primary fibrotic disorders such as lung, cardiac or renal fibrosis. The exact trigger for mast cell degranulation however is not known. Notwithstanding, at a very early time point of fibrosis, mast cell inhibition by stabilisers or blockage of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-kit by masitinib could be a therapeutic option.
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spelling doaj.art-09dd65ce0f7941159bb0d2bac8b9507f2022-12-22T04:24:38ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972014-08-01144353610.4414/smw.2014.13999Beyond allergy: the role of mast cells in fibrosisThomas Hügle Mast cells are tissue-bound cells of the innate immune system which are well known for immunoglobuline (Ig)E-triggered degranulation in allergic reactions. More recently, an important role of mast cells has been described in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders which are often associated with fibrosis or sclerosis. Innate immune receptors such as Fc-, toll-like- or NOD-like receptors stimuli can trigger mast cell degranulation and enhance immunological danger signals. Whereas fulminant degranulation of mast cell vesicles is observed in anaphylaxis, piecemeal degranulation or transgranulation are mechanisms for a slower release of their granula. A cocktail of cytokines, growth factors and proteoglycans is produced and stored in granula of mast cells. Mast cells are a substantial reservoir of both preformed inflammatory factors (i.e., TNF-alpha and IL-17) and factors that can trigger a profibrotic, Th-2–polarised inflammation (i.e., IL-4 and IL-10). In systemic sclerosis, mast cell vesicles are the main source of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. Cell-to-cell contact between mast cells and fibroblasts occurs in the affected tissue, supporting the hypothesis that transgranulation might be an important mechanism in fibrosis. The direct release of proteoglycans such as hyaluronic acid into the interstitial space is a further stimulus for matrix remodelling. Mast cell hyperactivity has also been demonstrated in primary fibrotic disorders such as lung, cardiac or renal fibrosis. The exact trigger for mast cell degranulation however is not known. Notwithstanding, at a very early time point of fibrosis, mast cell inhibition by stabilisers or blockage of the tyrosine kinase receptor c-kit by masitinib could be a therapeutic option. https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1900inflammationmast cellfibrosissystemic sclerosisdegranulation
spellingShingle Thomas Hügle
Beyond allergy: the role of mast cells in fibrosis
Swiss Medical Weekly
inflammation
mast cell
fibrosis
systemic sclerosis
degranulation
title Beyond allergy: the role of mast cells in fibrosis
title_full Beyond allergy: the role of mast cells in fibrosis
title_fullStr Beyond allergy: the role of mast cells in fibrosis
title_full_unstemmed Beyond allergy: the role of mast cells in fibrosis
title_short Beyond allergy: the role of mast cells in fibrosis
title_sort beyond allergy the role of mast cells in fibrosis
topic inflammation
mast cell
fibrosis
systemic sclerosis
degranulation
url https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1900
work_keys_str_mv AT thomashugle beyondallergytheroleofmastcellsinfibrosis