Cellular and Molecular Insights into Allergies and Allergic Diseases

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 1763

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
Interests: allergy; mast cell; signal transduction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue titled "Cellular and Molecular Insights into Allergies and Allergic Diseases". Allergic disorders represent a growing global health concern characterized by complex immune dysregulation. At the cellular level, these conditions involve intricate interactions between immune cells, epithelial barriers, and molecular signaling pathways. Recent advances in immunology and cell biology have revealed novel mechanisms underlying allergic sensitization, effector cell activation, and chronic inflammation, offering exciting opportunities for fundamental research.

This Special Issue aims to explore the latest discoveries in allergy pathogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels. We seek to compile cutting-edge research that elucidates the fundamental biological processes driving allergic responses, from initial sensitization to chronic inflammatory phases. This Special Issue will focus on mechanistic studies employing advanced cellular, molecular, and immunological approaches to understand allergy pathophysiology.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and comprehensive reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Molecular mechanisms of allergen recognition and processing;
  • Cellular interactions in allergic inflammation;
  • Epithelial-immune cell crosstalk in allergy;
  • Signal transduction pathways in allergic responses;
  • Genetic and epigenetic regulation of allergic diseases;
  • Novel experimental models of allergic disorders;
  • Single-cell approaches to study allergic inflammation;
  • Molecular targets for allergy intervention.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Toshiaki Kawakami
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • allergy
  • immune regulation
  • mast cells
  • Th2 responses
  • epithelial barrier
  • IgE
  • inflammation
  • cellular signaling
  • molecular mechanisms

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 9732 KB  
Article
Identification of Natural Compounds Triggering MRGPRX2-Mediated Calcium Flux and Degranulation in RBL-2H3 Cells
by Lihui Zhang, Jing Liu, Jian Zheng, Wenguang Jing, Wenjuan Zhang, Jia Chen, Xinyue Zhang, Xianlong Cheng and Feng Wei
Cells 2026, 15(3), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15030287 - 3 Feb 2026
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Abstract
Natural compounds have experienced increasing clinical application, but their association with rapid-onset anaphylactoid reactions (ARs) present a significant challenge to their safe use. These ARs, clinically resembling Type I hypersensitivity, are non-IgE-mediated and involve direct mast cell activation, primarily through the human Mas-related [...] Read more.
Natural compounds have experienced increasing clinical application, but their association with rapid-onset anaphylactoid reactions (ARs) present a significant challenge to their safe use. These ARs, clinically resembling Type I hypersensitivity, are non-IgE-mediated and involve direct mast cell activation, primarily through the human Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2). We computationally screened a natural compound library for MRGPRX2 activation. A human MRGPRX2-expressing cell model was established. Cell viability assays (0–80 μM) were performed to determine appropriate drug concentrations. Compared to the controls, Baohuoside I (10 μM), along with Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), Isochlorogenic Acid B, Baicalin, Andrographolide, Isorhamnetin, and Dehydroandrographolide (all at 20 μM), significantly increased intracellular calcium flux (p < 0.05) and boosted tryptase and β-hexosaminidase secretion (ELISA) (p < 0.05) in mast cells. Furthermore, the degranulation induced by these compounds was inhibited by the MRGPRX2 inhibitor Z3578 at 20 μM. Neutral red staining was employed to observe cellular morphological changes. Specific compounds capable of mediating ARs through MRGPRX2 activation on mast cells were identified. This contributes to safer and more effective drug use by elucidating the potential triggers of ARs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Insights into Allergies and Allergic Diseases)
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Review

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14 pages, 592 KB  
Review
Trogocytosis and Allergy
by Olga Sergeevna Boeva, Veronika Sergeevna Abbasova, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kozlov and Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Pashkina
Cells 2026, 15(6), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15060516 - 13 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Trogocytosis is the process of engulfment of a portion of a cell’s membrane by another cell. This process is characterized by the transfer of membrane fragments and proteins between adjacent cells without their complete fusion or phagocytosis, which distinguishes it from classical cellular [...] Read more.
Trogocytosis is the process of engulfment of a portion of a cell’s membrane by another cell. This process is characterized by the transfer of membrane fragments and proteins between adjacent cells without their complete fusion or phagocytosis, which distinguishes it from classical cellular uptake pathways. In the immune system, the initiating signal for trogocytosis is antigen presentation or the interaction of the Fc receptor with an antibody bound to the cell. During trogocytosis, T cells transfer not only the MHC molecule with the antigenic peptide, but also the costimulatory molecules CD80, CD86, OX-40 and others. As a result of trogocytosis, cells can transfer various surface molecules, acquire new immunological properties, and modulate each other’s activity. This review examines the basic mechanisms of trogocytosis, the involvement of T2-mediated immunity components in trogocytosis, and its possible role in allergies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Insights into Allergies and Allergic Diseases)
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