Jamur MC, Oliver C, et al.
Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition). Date of publication 2011 Jun 1;volume 3():1390-406.
1. Front Biosci (Schol Ed). 2011 Jun 1;3:1390-406.
Origin, maturation and recruitment of mast cell precursors.
Jamur MC(1), Oliver C.
Author information:
(1)Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao
Preto, Univerity of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil. mjamur@fmrp.usp.br
Mast cells have gained increased recognition as immunomodulators playing a role
in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. They were first
described in 1879, but their origin remained controversial for almost a century.
Today, it is known that mast cells are present in the bone marrow as committed
mast cell precursors. They leave the bone marrow as progenitors and complete
their maturation at peripheral sites. Investigations on the maturation of bone
marrow derived mast cells focused on bone marrow cultured in the presence of
interleukin-3 (IL-3) and stem cell factor (SCF). SCF is essential for mast cell
survival and mice that lack either SCF or the receptor for SCF are mast cell
deficient. It is the microenvironment surrounding the mast cell that determines
its mature phenotype. SCF, IL-3 and IL-9 have been identified among the most
important cytokines for regulation of mast cell growth and differentiation.
Several factors have been identified as chemoattractants for mast cells, but
their exact mechanism of action remains unclear. Mast cell recruitment is most
likely a combination of the direct effect of mast cell mediators on the mast cell
progenitor as well as the indirect effect of these mediators on other cell types.
DOI: 10.2741/231
PMID: 21622276 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
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