Chenglu Lu^1,#, Huiting Zhang^2,#, Ujjal K. Bhawal^3,4, Lei Wang¹, Jingwu Li¹, Pangzhou Chen^5,*, Lewei Zhu^6,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.12, pp. 3657-3678, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.069703 - 27 November 2025

Abstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex network composed of non-tumor cells, extracellular matrix, blood vessels, and various molecular signals that surround and profoundly influence tumor progression. As one of the key immune effector cells within the TME, mast cells (MCs) exhibit functional complexity, and their specific roles remain widely debated. Depending on the cancer type, spatial distribution, and interactions with other TME components, MCs can demonstrate dual regulatory capabilities—either promoting or inhibiting tumor growth. This characteristic has made them an important focus in current tumor immunology research. This review aims to systematically review the More >

Luyao Sun^#, Ronghao Zhang^#, Kexin Su, Mengjie Wang, Kai Wang, Xiaoyu Wang^*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.11, pp. 2217-2237, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.068450 - 24 November 2025

Abstract Objectives: An allergy is an exaggerated immune response, and mast cells play central roles in allergic pathologies. Allyl isothiocyanate can suppress inflammatory responses; however, whether allyl isothiocyanate has a suppressive effect on allergic pathologies remains unclear. Methods: 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzen or ovalbumin was used to establish a mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis or food allergy, respectively. The mRNA level of cytokines was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. To examine the effects of allyl isothiocyanate on mast cells, degranulation and intracellular calcium measurement, RNA sequencing, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting were performed. Results: Allyl isothiocyanate… More >

VIRGINIA LOTTI¹, GAETANO DE SIENA², STEFANO BACCI^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.12, pp. 1751-1759, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.057904 - 30 December 2024

Abstract Background: Impaired wound healing is one of the most well-known complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Experimental evidence suggested that treatment with Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist displaying a wide range of antidiabetic effects, can promote tissue regeneration. Objectives: Thus, this study aimed to examine the efficacy of topical treatment with Exendin-4 in accelerating wound healing in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic mice. Methods: For this purpose, two wounds inflicted on the back skin of 12 normo- and 12 hyperglycemic mice were injected intradermally with either saline solution or Exendin-4. Wounds were collected at the time of abrasion… More >

MICHAEL HUBER^*, SANDRO CAPELLMANN

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.5, pp. 1125-1129, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018513 - 06 January 2022

Abstract Mast cells (MCs), hematopoietic cells of the myeloid lineage, are well-known for their pro-inflammatory nature contributing to the development of various allergic and autoimmune diseases. One of the characteristic receptors on MCs, the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRI), is activated in its IgE-bound state via binding and crosslinking by polyvalent antigen. This results in its phosphorylation by the SRC family kinase LYN, initiating differential signaling pathways, eventually triggering immunological effector functions, such as degranulation and cytokine production. Few publications have reported on FcεRI-dependent but antigen-independent MC activation by antibody-mediated crosslinking of membrane molecules (e.g., transmembrane More >

XIAOYU WANG^1,2,#,*, TAKESHI YAMAMOTO^2,#, MAKOTO KADOWAKI², YIFU YANG¹

BIOCELL, Vol.45, No.2, pp. 395-415, 2021, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2021.012280 - 19 February 2021

Abstract Mast cells are the main effector cells in IgE-associated allergic disorders, and we have reported that mucosal mast cells (MMCs) play a more important role in the development of food allergy (FA). IgE with antigen or calcium ionophore stimulation can lead to the activation of MMCs via a calcium-dependent pathway. The purpose of the present study was to identify gene signatures with IgE/antigen (dinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin, DNP-BSA) or calcium ionophore (A23187) on the activation of MMCs. Differentially expressed genes between the two types of samples were identified with microarray analysis. Gene ontology functional and pathway… More >

M. ISOLDE RUDOLPH¹, I. GINA ROJAS², ALICIA B. PENISSI³

BIOCELL, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 1-11, 2004, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2004.28.001

Abstract Birth is the result of complex, well-defined, and coordinated events, that are tightly regulated by endocrine, nervous, and immune responses, and take place primarily in the female reproductive tract. Various mechanisms and mediators involved in pregnancy, labor, and delivery, are highly conserved among different mammalian species and mast cells emerge as potential and crucial participants in these processes, as it is discussed in this review. More >

Alicia B. Penissi*, María I. Rudolph**, Ramón S. Piezzi*

BIOCELL, Vol.27, No.2, pp. 163-172, 2003, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2003.27.163

Abstract The purpose of this review, based on studies from our laboratory as well as from others, is to summarize salient features of mast cell immunobiology and to describe their associations with gastrointestinal mucosal defense. Gastrointestinal mast cells are involved in many pathologic effects, such as food hypersensitivity. On the other hand, they also play a protective role in defense against parasitic and microbial infections. Thus, they have both positive and negative effects, but presently the mechanisms that control the balance of these various effects are poorly known. It has been suggested that stabilization of mast… More >

S. NICOVANI , M.I. RUDOLPH

BIOCELL, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 15-24, 2002, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2002.26.015

Abstract We examined the presence of estrogen receptors (ER) in vascular mast cells and a possible genomic effect of estrogens on the expression of mast cell (MC) mediators such as chymase, TNFα, NOS and IL-10, which are known to affect the course of atherosclerosis. Immunocytochemical detection of mast cell tryptase and the co-localization of ERs in MCs from abdominal aortic vessels from 10 fertile woman, 10 postmenopausal women and 15 men was performed. The genomic expression of IL-10, TNFα, and NOS was analyzed by RT-PCR and chymase activity by spectrophotometry after 24 h incubation with 17-β… More >