Mast cell mediators

Mast cells are resident cells, mostly found in interface tissues. They are endowed with a rich granular contents that led their discoverer, Paul Ehrlich, to hypothesize on their nutritional role. Although the first description of mast cells dated back to 1878, their effector role in immediate type hypersensitivity was not uncovered until 1950, while their more general role in immune functions were largely unknown until 2000. In the present review, we will summarize the current understanding of exocytosed mast cell mediators, together with the mechanisms of membrane fusion that govern the degranulation/exocytosis process. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.