Mast Cells in Health and Disease: Current Insights and Future Perspectives on Development, Activation, Functional Roles, and Therapeutic Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

Mast cells (MCs) are multifaceted effector cells of the immune system, characterized by their abundance of secretory granules packed with a variety of bioactive mediators, including histamine, cytokines, and MC-specific proteases. These cells are widely distributed throughout the body, with higher abundance in tissues that serve as entry points for external insults, and are equipped with a broad range of sensing receptors. Upon recognition of stimuli via their receptors, MCs become activated and release a panel of inflammatory mediators, allowing them to orchestrate inflammation and play a key role in host defense against microbial pathogens and poisonous substances. However, dysregulated MC activation can contribute to the pathogenesis of various diseases, in particular allergic conditions, including asthma and atopic dermatitis, as well as other pathological conditions, such as cutaneous mastocytosis, fibrosis, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, strategies targeting MCs hold significant promise for treating these diseases. Potential approaches include targeting individual MC mediators, blocking receptors for MC-released compounds, inhibiting MC activation, limiting MC growth, and reducing MC numbers through the induction of their apoptosis. Despite extensive research, the full spectrum of mast cells' pathophysiological roles remains incompletely understood.

In this Special Issue of Cells, we are inviting contributions, either in the form of original research articles, reviews, or shorter perspective articles on all aspects related to the theme of “Mast Cells in Health and Disease: Current Insights and Future Perspectives on Development, Activation, Functional Roles, and Therapeutic Strategies”. Articles with mechanistic and functional insights into cell and molecular biology, or in vivo studies are especially welcome. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Mast cell development and survival ;
• Mast cell heterogeneity and plasticity;
• Mast cell activation via IgE-dependent and -independent pathways;
• Receptor signaling and signal transduction pathways governing mast cell activation and inhibition;
• Mast cell mediators, their regulation and biological impacts;
• Roles of mast cells in immunity and host defense against pathogens and toxins;
• Mast cell roles in homeostasis and tissue repair;
• Mast cell roles in the pathogenesis of allergic and non-allergic inflammatory diseases;
• Emerging detrimental effects of mast cells and their contribution to diverse pathological conditions;
• Contribution of mast cell-specific mediators (e.g., tryptase, chymase, and carboxypeptidase A3) to disease progression and physiological function;
• Mast cell communication and interaction with immune and non-immune cells;
• In vivo models to investigate mast cell pathophysiological functions;
• Advanced techniques for studying mast cell biology (e.g., single-cell analysis, in vivo imaging);
• Novel therapeutic approaches targeting mast cells and their mediators.

Dr. Aida Paivandy
Guest Editor

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