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Roles of Mast Cells in Immune-Induced Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 5861

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Internal Medicine, Allergology & Clinical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Interests: mast cells; mastocytosis; autoinflammatory disorders; systemic autoimmune disease; allergy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Interests: mast cells; mastocytosis; autoinflammatory disorders; systemic autoimmune disease; allergy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mast cells are innate-type leukocytes that reside at barrier surfaces of the body, mainly the skin and mucosa, where they contribute to the local immune responses induced by exogenous or physical triggers that disturb local tissue homeostasis. Mast cells are known to expand upon helminth infection. Yet, mast cells can also be found in the organs and tissue of our circulatory and nervous systems.

Different types of activation can be induced. These typically result, in degranulation whereby different kinds of preformed mediators can be rapidly expelled. 

Next to the rapid degranulation of preformed molecules, mast cells can initiate a slower pro-inflammatory response. This involves the synthesis and secretion of cytokines and chemokines. These subsequently activate neighbouring cells and recruit and activate infiltrating immune cells. Furthermore, mast cells strongly interact with fibroblasts in wound-healing responses, and mast cell-derived proteases are important in eradicating toxic venoms. All the functional characteristics above illustrate the importance of mast cells in the control of variety of physiological and pathophysiological effects. Mast cells have, for instance, been implicated as playing a role in interstitial lung disease, gastrointestinal disorders and transplant rejection.

In this current Issue of the journal, we aim to illustrate the role of mast cells in various immune-mediated disorders.

Prof. Dr. Paul L.A. Van Daele
Dr. Willem A. Dik
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • mast cell
  • fibrosis
  • inflammation
  • autoinflammation
  • autoimmunity
  • transplantation
  • gastrointestinal
  • pulmonary
  • cytokines
  • MRGPRX2
  • rejection

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

19 pages, 2116 KiB  
Review
Mast Cells at the Crossroads of Hypersensitivity Reactions and Neurogenic Inflammation
by Ernesto Aitella, Ciro Romano, Lia Ginaldi and Domenico Cozzolino
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26030927 - 23 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5421
Abstract
Although mast cells have long been known, they are not yet fully understood. They are traditionally recognized for their role in allergic reactions through the IgE/FcεRI axis, but different groups of surface receptors have since been characterized, which appear to be involved in [...] Read more.
Although mast cells have long been known, they are not yet fully understood. They are traditionally recognized for their role in allergic reactions through the IgE/FcεRI axis, but different groups of surface receptors have since been characterized, which appear to be involved in the manifestation of peculiar clinical features. In particular, MRGPRX2 has emerged as a crucial receptor involved in degranulating human skin mast cells. Because of mast cells’ close proximity to peripheral nerve endings, it may play a key role in neuroimmune interactions. This paper provides an overview of mast cell contributions to hypersensitivity and so-called “pseudoallergic” reactions, as well as an update on neuroinflammatory implications in the main models of airway and skin allergic diseases. In particular, the main cellular characteristics and the most relevant surface receptors involved in MC pathophysiology have been reappraised in light of recent advancements in MC research. Molecular and clinical aspects related to MC degranulation induced by IgE or MRGPRX2 have been analyzed and compared, along with their possible repercussions and limitations on future therapeutic perspectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Roles of Mast Cells in Immune-Induced Diseases)
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