Abstract

Over 100 years ago Paul Ehrlich identified mast cells in human connective tissues on the basis of the metachromatic staining properties of their prominent cytoplasmic granules [Ehrlich, 1878]. He also described the basophil, a circulating leukocyte containing cytoplasmic granules with staining properties similar to mast cells [Ehrlich, 1879]. Mast cells and basophils share several other notable features. They are among the few cell types that synthesize histamine and other chemical mediators implicated in the pathophysiology of a variety of inflammatory and immunological disorders [Marone, 1985; Marone et al.,1988; 1989a]. Both cell types also express plasma membrane receptors (FceRI) that bind the Fc portion of IgE antibody with high affinity [Rossi et al., 1990].

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