Figure 1 | Experimental & Molecular Medicine

Figure 1

From: New era for mucosal mast cells: their roles in inflammation, allergic immune responses and adjuvant development

Figure 1

Activation of mast cells (MCs) and their role in immune cell orchestration. MC activation and degranulation are induced by various stimuli (for example, infection) at the peripheral sites. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) released by MCs and MC/B-cell interactions via the CD40/CD40L pathway enhance immunoglobulin A (IgA) production by B cells. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) released by MCs induces migration of dendritic cells (DCs) into the draining lymph nodes (LNs). MC-derived granules (∼50 nm diameter), containing TNFα and proteases, are delivered to the LNs and induce modification of their microarchitecture (for example, hyperplasia) that leads to accumulation of peripheral lymphocytes (for example, T cells) in the LNs.

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