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Mast cells and histamine
Research Guide
What is Mast cells and histamine?
Mast cells are immune cells that release histamine, a key mediator in allergic diseases, immune responses, and inflammation, as explored in a cluster of 51,191 papers.
Mast cells play diverse roles in allergic disease, immune responses, and inflammation through activation, regulation, and interactions with other immune cells. The field encompasses molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and therapeutic implications related to mast cell biology, including their involvement in mastocytosis. This research cluster contains 51,191 works with no specified 5-year growth rate.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Mast Cell Degranulation Mechanisms
Researchers elucidate signaling pathways like FcεRI crosslinking leading to histamine and cytokine release from mast cells. Studies employ knockout models and inhibitors to dissect calcium flux and kinase roles.
Mast Cells in Allergic Diseases
This area investigates mast cell contributions to asthma, anaphylaxis, and atopic dermatitis via IgE-mediated responses. Clinical trials evaluate biologics like omalizumab blocking IgE-mast cell interactions.
Mast Cell Interactions with Adaptive Immunity
Studies explore mast cell modulation of T cell activation, dendritic cell recruitment, and B cell responses in adaptive immunity. Research highlights roles in vaccine adjuvancy and autoimmunity.
Mastocytosis Pathogenesis
Scholars analyze KIT D816V mutations driving clonal mast cell disorders like systemic mastocytosis. Genetic and pharmacological studies target tyrosine kinase inhibitors for disease modification.
Non-Allergic Roles of Mast Cells
Research uncovers mast cell functions in wound healing, angiogenesis, and bacterial defense independent of IgE. Models investigate protease-activated receptor signaling and toll-like receptor responses.
Why It Matters
Mast cells contribute to allergic and non-allergic immune responses by releasing histamine, which influences inflammation and T cell activation. "Definition and Antagonism of Histamine H2-receptors" (1972) defined H2-receptors and their antagonism, enabling treatments for conditions involving histamine-mediated responses such as gastric acid secretion disorders. Receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, as in "Gain-of-Function Mutations of c-kit in Human Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors" by Hirota et al. (1998), links mast cell-related KIT mutations to tumors like GISTs, with 4441 citations highlighting its impact on oncology. These mechanisms affect diseases including mastocytosis and inform therapies targeting cytokines and inflammation.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Definition and Antagonism of Histamine H2-receptors" (1972) provides a foundational understanding of histamine receptor function essential for grasping mast cell mediator roles.
Key Papers Explained
"Gain-of-Function Mutations of c-kit in Human Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors" by Hirota et al. (1998) establishes c-kit mutations in mast cell-related tumors, building to signaling insights in "Inositol phospholipids and cell surface receptor function" by Michell (1975) on receptor pathways. "Definition and Antagonism of Histamine H2-receptors" (1972) connects histamine specifics, while Michell (1975) and Hirota et al. (1998) link to broader tyrosine kinase and phospholipid mechanisms in immune responses.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Research focuses on mast cell regulation in mastocytosis and allergic diseases, with ongoing exploration of KIT signaling from Hirota et al. (1998); no recent preprints or news available.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gain-of-Function Mutations of c- <i>kit</i> in Human Gastroint... | 1998 | Science | 4.4K | ✕ |
| 2 | A fluorometric method for determination of oxidized and reduce... | 1976 | Analytical Biochemistry | 4.1K | ✕ |
| 3 | Inositol phospholipids and cell surface receptor function | 1975 | Biochimica et Biophysi... | 2.5K | ✕ |
| 4 | Mechanism of Action and In Vivo Role of Platelet-Derived Growt... | 1999 | Physiological Reviews | 2.5K | ✕ |
| 5 | Establishment and characterization of a human histiocytic lymp... | 1976 | International Journal ... | 2.4K | ✕ |
| 6 | Chronic graft-versus-host syndrome in man | 1980 | The American Journal o... | 2.4K | ✕ |
| 7 | Definition and Antagonism of Histamine H2-receptors | 1972 | Nature | 2.3K | ✕ |
| 8 | mTOR signaling at a glance | 2009 | Journal of Cell Science | 2.1K | ✓ |
| 9 | Germline mutations of the PTEN gene in Cowden disease, an inhe... | 1997 | Nature Genetics | 2.1K | ✕ |
| 10 | New insights into tumor suppression: PTEN suppresses tumor for... | 1999 | Proceedings of the Nat... | 2.0K | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does histamine play in immune responses?
Histamine mediates allergic disease and inflammation through specific receptors like H2-receptors. "Definition and Antagonism of Histamine H2-receptors" (1972) identified these receptors and antagonists that block their action. This underlies mast cell contributions to immune responses.
How are mast cells activated in allergic diseases?
Mast cells activate via receptor tyrosine kinases such as c-kit, releasing histamine and cytokines. "Gain-of-Function Mutations of c-kit in Human Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors" by Hirota et al. (1998) showed KIT mutations drive cell proliferation in tumors linked to mast cell signaling. This mechanism extends to allergic and inflammatory responses.
What is the significance of c-kit in mast cell biology?
c-kit, a receptor tyrosine kinase, regulates mast cell function and is implicated in diseases like mastocytosis. Hirota et al. (1998) in "Gain-of-Function Mutations of c-kit in Human Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors" identified gain-of-function mutations in GISTs, revealing c-kit's role in abnormal cell growth. This informs mast cell-targeted therapies.
How do signaling pathways involve mast cells and histamine?
Pathways like phosphoinositide signaling link receptor activation to mast cell responses including histamine release. "Inositol phospholipids and cell surface receptor function" by Michell (1975) described these phospholipids in receptor-mediated events central to immune cell signaling. Mast cells utilize such pathways in inflammation.
What defines histamine H2-receptors?
Histamine H2-receptors mediate physiological responses antagonized by specific blockers. "Definition and Antagonism of Histamine H2-receptors" (1972) provided their functional definition through antagonism studies. This supports therapeutic modulation in histamine-driven conditions.
Open Research Questions
- ? How do gain-of-function c-kit mutations in mast cells contribute to mastocytosis progression?
- ? What are the precise interactions between mast cell histamine release and T cell activation in non-allergic inflammation?
- ? How do receptor tyrosine kinase pathways in mast cells intersect with cytokine production during immune responses?
- ? What molecular mechanisms regulate mast cell-basophil cooperation in allergic diseases?
Recent Trends
The field maintains 51,191 papers on mast cells and histamine in immunology, with emphasis on c-kit mutations from Hirota et al. (1998, 4441 citations) and H2-receptor definition (1972, 2278 citations); no growth rate, recent preprints, or news reported.
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