Mast cells in allergy and tumor disease

Abstract

In allergy, mast cells (MCs) are known for the notoriously detrimental role they play. MC mediators like histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxane are released during the early phase of an allergic reaction and produce inflammation and local tissue responses. One pervasive roadblock in the effective development of therapeutic immunity to cancer is the fact that tumors create immune privileged sites that are resistant to the development of effective inflammation and effective anti-tumor responses. In this chapter we will present the current knowledge of the inflammatory responses elicited in allergies by IgE and MCs as well as the current knowledge on how the responses of MCs may regulate tumor growth and the immune response to tumors. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010. All rights reserved.