Figure 1
From: Advances in mast cell biology: new understanding of heterogeneity and function
Current model of mast cell (MC) development and heterogeneity. MC development occurs from a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) in bone marrow that proceeds along the myeloid lineage through the common myeloid progenitor (CMP) and granulocyte/macrophage progenitor (GMP). Mast cell progenitors (MCP) develop either from GMP or directly from HSC, circulate in the blood stream, migrate into peripheral tissues and mature. Common basophil/mast cell progenitors (BMCP) are found in spleen of C57BL/6 mice and can develop into MCP and basophil progenitors (BaP). Because MC maturation is influenced by local microenvironmental factors, different MC phenotypes can develop in different tissues, and even in different locations of the same tissue. The changing microenvironment surrounding MC in both physiological (e.g., hormone changes during the menstrual cycle) and pathological conditions (e.g., inflammatory cell infiltration, activation in inflamed tissue) causes further changes in MC heterogeneity. Moreover, epigenetic regulation of gene expression can affect MC phenotype.
