Mast Cells and Mastocytosis, An Issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics

Mast cell activation is a central event in development of allergic disorders and contribute to pathogenesis of many other inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Improved understanding of normal and pathologic mechanisms regulating mast cell differentiation, survival and activation may therefore lead to development of new therapies for these disorders. A number of important breakthroughs have recently been realized in our understanding of mastocytosis, a disorder characterized by pathologic mast cell growth and activation. Significant advances were made in such key areas as uncovering genetic basis of disease, establishment of objective diagnostic criteria, and emergence of novel treatment concepts based on its molecular pathogenesis. This issue of the Clinics brings together many of the experts who made these breakthroughs in mast cell biology and mastocytosis possible.