PMID- 2407920
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19900406
LR  - 20230207
IS  - 0024-3205 (Print)
IS  - 0024-3205 (Linking)
VI  - 46
IP  - 9
DP  - 1990
TI  - Mast cells: the immune gate to the brain.
PG  - 607-17
AB  - Mast cells were originally considered wandering histiocytes, but are now known to 
      derive from the bone marrow and enter the tissues as immature or precursor cells 
      which then differentiate under micro-environmental influences such as 
      interleukin-3. At least three types of mature mast cells have been identified as 
      serosal (lung, peritoneal, skin), mucosal (nasal, gastrointestinal) and brain 
      (dural, perivascular, parenchymal) with their own distinct biochemical, 
      morphological and functional characteristics. Mast cells are necessary for 
      immediate hypersensitivity reactions where they release numerous biologically 
      powerful mediators in response to immunoglobulin E (IgE) and antigen (Ag), and 
      appear to be required for delayed reactions. Anaphylatoxins, basic peptides and 
      drugs, as well as certain neuropeptides and hormones, can also trigger mast cell 
      secretion. Recent evidence indicates that mast cells are found in close proximity 
      to neurons, an association which may be regulated by nerve growth factor. 
      Moreover, mast cells may be capable of selective release of mediators which 
      could, in turn, regulate further secretion. This information suggests that mast 
      cells may serve as a link between the immune, endocrine and nervous systems and 
      could have an important role in the access of lymphocytes and pathogens to the 
      brain. The possible role of such interactions in the pathophysiology of specific 
      neuroinflammatory conditions is also discussed.
FAU - Theoharides, T C
AU  - Theoharides TC
AD  - Department of Pharmacology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 
      02111.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PT  - Review
PL  - Netherlands
TA  - Life Sci
JT  - Life sciences
JID - 0375521
RN  - 0 (Neuropeptides)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Brain/*cytology/immunology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Mast Cells/cytology/*immunology/metabolism
MH  - Neurons/cytology
MH  - Neuropeptides/metabolism
RF  - 149
EDAT- 1990/01/01 00:00
MHDA- 1990/01/01 00:01
CRDT- 1990/01/01 00:00
PHST- 1990/01/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1990/01/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1990/01/01 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 0024-3205(90)90129-F [pii]
AID - 10.1016/0024-3205(90)90129-f [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Life Sci. 1990;46(9):607-17. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(90)90129-f.