• Basophils leave the bone marrow already mature, whereas the mast cell circulates in an immature form, only maturing once in a tissue site. (wikipedia.org)
  • The site an immature mast cell settles in probably determines its precise characteristics. (wikipedia.org)
  • The tissue site an immature mast cell chooses to settle in probably determines its precise characteristics. (wikidoc.org)
  • Furthermore, they share a common precursor in bone marrow expressing the CD34 molecule. (wikipedia.org)
  • Nevertheless, both mast cells and basophils are thought to originate from bone marrow precursors expressing the CD34 molecule. (wikidoc.org)
  • A mast cell (also known as a mastocyte or a labrocyte) is a resident cell of connective tissue that contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin. (wikipedia.org)
  • Mast cells in rodents are classically divided into two subtypes: connective tissue-type mast cells and mucosal mast cells. (wikipedia.org)
  • Two types of mast cells are recognized, those from connective tissue and a distinct set of mucosal mast cells. (wikidoc.org)
  • Mast cells were discovered by Paul Ehrlich in 1877. (wikipedia.org)
  • Mast cells were first described by Paul Ehrlich in his 1878 doctoral thesis on the basis of their unique staining characteristics and large granules. (wikidoc.org)
  • The Fc region of immunoglobulin E (IgE) becomes bound to mast cells and basophils, and when IgE's paratopes bind to an antigen, it causes the cells to release histamine and other inflammatory mediators. (wikipedia.org)
  • The allergen binds to the antigen-binding sites, which are situated on the variable regions of the IgE molecules bound to the mast cell surface. (wikipedia.org)
  • When activated, a mast cell can either selectively release (piecemeal degranulation) or rapidly release (anaphylactic degranulation) "mediators", or compounds that induce inflammation, from storage granules into the local microenvironment. (wikipedia.org)
  • A unique, stimulus-specific set of mast cell mediators is released through degranulation following the activation of cell surface receptors on mast cells. (wikipedia.org)
  • When activated, a mast cell rapidly releases its characteristic granules and various hormonal mediators into the interstitium. (wikidoc.org)
  • In allergic reactions, mast cells remain inactive until an allergen binds to IgE already coated upon the cell. (wikipedia.org)
  • The allergen binds to the Fab part of the IgE molecules on the mast cell surface. (wikidoc.org)
  • The bump and redness immediately following a mosquito bite are a good example of this reaction, which occurs seconds after challenge of the mast cell by an allergen. (wikidoc.org)
  • Although best known for their role in allergy and anaphylaxis, mast cells play an important protective role as well, being intimately involved in wound healing, angiogenesis, immune tolerance, defense against pathogens, and vascular permeability in brain tumors. (wikipedia.org)
  • Although best known for their role in allergy and anaphylaxis , mast cells play an important protective role as well, being intimately involved in wound healing and defense against pathogens . (wikidoc.org)
  • Both are granulated cells that contain histamine and heparin, an anticoagulant. (wikipedia.org)
  • A mast cell (or mastocyte ) is a resident cell of several types of tissues and contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin . (wikidoc.org)
  • These granules also led him to the mistaken belief that they existed to nourish the surrounding tissue, and he named them "mastzellen," a german term, meaning "feeding-cells. (wikidoc.org)
  • Mast cells play a key role in the inflammatory process. (wikipedia.org)
  • This leads to local edema (swelling), warmth, redness, and the attraction of other inflammatory cells to the site of release. (wikidoc.org)
  • Mast cells are present in most tissues characteristically surrounding blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic vessels, and are especially prominent near the boundaries between the outside world and the internal milieu, such as the skin, mucosa of the lungs, and digestive tract, as well as the mouth, conjunctiva, and nose. (wikipedia.org)
  • Complement proteins can activate membrane receptors on mast cells to exert various functions as well. (wikipedia.org)
  • Other membrane activation events can either prime mast cells for subsequent degranulation or act in synergy with FcεRI signal transduction. (wikipedia.org)
  • the steric changes lead to a slight disturbance to the cell membrane structure, causing a complex sequence of reactions inside the cell that lead to its activation. (wikidoc.org)
  • Although mast cells were once thought to be tissue-resident basophils, it has been shown that the two cells develop from different hematopoietic lineages and thus cannot be the same cells. (wikipedia.org)
  • As a result, mast cells are coated with IgE, which is produced by plasma cells (the antibody-producing cells of the immune system). (wikipedia.org)
  • IgE is produced by B-cells (the antibody-producing cells of the immune system). (wikidoc.org)
  • The clustering of the intracellular domains of the cell-bound Fc receptors, which are associated with the cross-linked IgE molecules, causes a complex sequence of reactions inside the mast cell that lead to its activation. (wikipedia.org)