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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Molecular and Cellular Pathology
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1466491

Mast cells: a double-edged sword in inflammation and fibrosis

Provisionally accepted
Xufang Wang Xufang Wang 1Peipei Zhang Peipei Zhang 2Yanlin Chen Yanlin Chen 1Enchao Zhou Enchao Zhou 1Kun Gao Kun Gao 1*
  • 1 Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Liaoning Province, China
  • 2 First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    As one of the key components of the immune system, mast cells are well known for their role in allergic reactions. However, they are also involved in inflammatory and fibrotic processes. Mast cells participant in all the stages of acute inflammatory responses, playing an immunomodulatory role in both innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Mast cell derived histamine, TNF-α and IL-6 contribute to the inflammatory processes, while IL-10 mediates the suppression of inflammation. Crosstalk between mast cells and other immune cells are also involved in the development of inflammation. The cell-cell adhesion of mast cells and fibroblasts is crucial for fibrosis. Mast cell mediators including cytokines and proteases play contradictory role in fibrotic process. Here, we review the double-edged role of mast cells in inflammation and fibrosis.

    Keywords: mast cell, Inflammation, Fibrosis, fibroblast, innate immunity, adaptive immunity

    Received: 19 Jul 2024; Accepted: 26 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Zhang, Chen, Zhou and Gao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Kun Gao, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Liaoning Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.