Abstract
The mast cell plays a critical role in allergic responses in the gastrointestinal tract and other sites. Emerging evidence indicates that mast cells also participate in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic esophagitis, although their precise role has not been defined. This article reviews the biology of mast cells and examines the potential involvement of the cell as an effector of the inflammatory response and tissue remodeling, and as a cell that has the potential to function as an immunomodulator and limit inflammation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 189-195 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2009 |
Keywords
- Eosinophils
- Esophagitis
- Mast cells
- Mediators
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology