Role of mast cells in allergy

Mast cells play a central role in IgE-mediated immediate-type allergic reaction and contribute to the late-phase allergic inflammation by releasing a variety of cytokines and chemokines. These cells also have a substantial effect on tissue remodeling, especially on airway smooth muscle hypertrophy and mucus hypersecretion by releasing proteases and growth factors such as tryptase and amphiregulin. The activation of mast cells in vitro is partially inhibited by the pretreatment with corticosteroid or tacrolimus through inhibition of NF-kappaB and NF-AT, respectively, and is profoundly blocked by the simultaneous treatment of the two drugs. Pharmaceutical development of safer drugs is expected to treat mast cell-mediated allergic disorders.