Cytokine and drug modulation of TNF alpha in mast cells.

Abstract

Mast cells (MC) are critical effector cells in allergic reactions, but also have the potential to regulate immune responses through the cytokines they produce (Table 1). These MC-derived multifunctional mediators (first mediator pool) recruit and activate other effector cells such as neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes/macrophages, as well as MC themselves to produce a broader spectrum of mediators in large amounts (second mediator pool) to amplify the response (Figure 1). Because of the limitation of space, this brief review focuses on the production and regulation of the first mediator pool in MC.