PMID- 19961471
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20100908
LR  - 20101118
IS  - 1469-185X (Electronic)
IS  - 0006-3231 (Linking)
VI  - 85
IP  - 2
DP  - 2010 May
TI  - The mast cell: an evolutionary perspective.
PG  - 347-60
LID - 10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00105.x [doi]
AB  - This review article is an attempt to trace the evolution of mast cells (MCs). 
      These immune cells have been identified in all vertebrate classes as single-lobed 
      cells containing variable amounts of membrane-bound secretory granules which 
      store a large series of mediators, namely histamine, proteases, cytokines and 
      growth factors. Other MC features, at least in mammals, are the c-kit receptor 
      for the stem cell factor and the high-affinity receptor, FcepsilonRI, for 
      immunoglobulin E (IgE). The c-kit receptor also has been identified in fish MCs. 
      The FcepsilonRI receptor seems to be a more recent acquisition in MC phylogenesis 
      given that IgE originated in mammalian species. Tryptase and histamine have also 
      been recognized in MCs of teleost fish. Thus, a cell population with the overall 
      characteristics of higher vertebrate MCs is identifiable in the most 
      evolutionarily advanced fish species. Two potential MC progenitors have been 
      identified in ascidians (urochordates which appeared approximately 500 million 
      years ago): the basophil/MC-like granular haemocyte and the test cell. Both 
      contain histamine and heparin, and provide defensive functions. Some granular 
      haemocytes in Arthropoda also closely approximate the ultrastructure of modern 
      MCs. The origin of MCs is probably to be found in a leukocyte ancestor operating 
      in the context of a primitive local innate immunity and involved in phagocytic 
      and killing activity against pathogens. From this type of defensive cell, the MC 
      phylogenetic progenitor evolved into a tissue regulatory and remodelling cell, 
      which was incorporated into the networks of recombinase activating genes 
      (RAG)-mediated adaptive immunity in the Cambrian era, some 550 million years ago. 
      Early MCs probably appeared in the last common ancestor we shared with hagfish, 
      lamprey and sharks about 450-500 million years ago.
FAU - Crivellato, Enrico
AU  - Crivellato E
AD  - Department of Medical and Morphological Research, Udine, Italy. 
      enrico.crivellato@uniud.it <enrico.crivellato@uniud.it>
FAU - Ribatti, Domenico
AU  - Ribatti D
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PT  - Review
DEP - 20091124
PL  - England
TA  - Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc
JT  - Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
JID - 0414576
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - *Biological Evolution
MH  - Cell Differentiation
MH  - Mast Cells/*cytology/*physiology
MH  - Vertebrates
RF  - 120
EDAT- 2009/12/08 06:00
MHDA- 2010/09/09 06:00
CRDT- 2009/12/08 06:00
PHST- 2009/12/08 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2009/12/08 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2010/09/09 06:00 [medline]
AID - BRV105 [pii]
AID - 10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00105.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2010 May;85(2):347-60. doi: 
      10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00105.x. Epub 2009 Nov 24.