Mast cell within the microenvironment: Cellular and matrix cross-talk in physiopathological conditions

Mast cells are triggered to release histamine and other mediators of inflammation when immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptors on the cell membrane are brought into close proximity, i.e. aggregated. This is usually accomplished in model systems by crosslinking IgE-loaded receptors with multivalent ligands, but can also be achieved by monovalent ligands bound to a fluid lipid bilayer, which may be patterned or homogeneous. With homogeneous membranes, the receptors on the mast cell develop a spatial pattern that bears some similarity to the T cell synapse. Ligand presentation on membranes may be a good model for the interactions of mast cells with various parasites; thus, the development of spatial patterns of receptors and the consequence for mast cell signaling is likely to be important for this most basic mast cell role. In this chapter, we review the role of the spatial organization of signaling components and IgE receptors in mast cell signaling. © 2013 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.