II. Pathophysiology

  1. Granulocyte originating in the Bone Marrow, with peripheral target regions in the skin and connect tissue
    1. Immature precursors from Bone Marrow transit to tissues, where the Mast Cells mature
    2. Similar to Basophils (see below), but in contrast, Mast Cells are not found in the blood
  2. High affinity for IgE and FceRI receptors (similar to Basophils)
    1. IgE binding results in granule release with reactions as below
  3. Functionally most similar to Basophils, and primarily responds to Immediate Hypersensitivity Reaction
    1. Releases Histamine (as well as other vasoactive Cytokines and mediators stored in secretory granules)
      1. Allows for inflammatory cells to reach tissues
    2. Results in wheal and flare reaction
    3. Red (vasodilation)
    4. Edema (vasodilation, vascular leak)

III. Labs: Morphology on Blood Smear

  1. Diameter: 10-15 um
  2. Bilobed or multi-lobed nucleus
  3. Appearance dominated by the contained dense granules that stain purple

IV. References

  1. Mahmoudi (2014) Immunology Made Ridiculously Simple, MedMaster, Miami, FL

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies

Ontology: mast cell (C0024880)

Definition (MSHCZE) Jedná se o granulární (tzv. žírné) buňky, které se nacházejí téměř ve všech tkáních, nejvíce v kůži a v gastrointestinálním traktu (v pojivové i krvetvorné tkáni). Podobně jako BAZOFILY obsahují mastocyty větší množství HISTAMINU a HEPARINU. Ale na rozdíl od bazofilů zůstávají mastocyty ve tkáni a necirkulují krví. Mastocyty odvozené z kmenových buněk kostní dřeně jsou regulovány FAKTOREM RŮSTU KMENOVÝCH BUNĚK. R
Definition (NCI) Mast cells are hematopoietic tissue cells that contain coarse, basophilic, metachromatic granules. They are believed to contain heparin and histamine and derive from hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A type of white blood cell.
Definition (MSH) Granulated cells that are found in almost all tissues, most abundantly in the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. Like the BASOPHILS, mast cells contain large amounts of HISTAMINE and HEPARIN. Unlike basophils, mast cells normally remain in the tissues and do not circulate in the blood. Mast cells, derived from the bone marrow stem cells, are regulated by the STEM CELL FACTOR.
Definition (CSP) granulated cells that are found in almost all tissues, most abundantly in the skin and the gastrointestinal tract; like basophils, contain large amounts of histamine and heparin but unlike basophils, mast cells normally remain in the tissues and do not circulate in the blood; mast cells, derived from the bone marrow stem cells, are regulated by stem cell factor.
Concepts Cell (T025)
MSH D008407
SnomedCT 6445007
LNC LP15073-7
English Basophil, Tissue, Basophils, Tissue, Cell, Mast, Cells, Mast, Mast Cells, Tissue Basophils, Tissue Basophil, mastocyte, Histaminocyte, Mast cells, tissue basophil, cell mast, mast cells, mastocytes, cells mast, Mast cell, Tissue basophil, Basophilic histiocyte, Mastocyte, Mast cell (cell), Mast cell (body structure), Mast Cell, mast cell
French Mastocytes, Mastocyte
Swedish Mastceller
Czech buňky žírné, mastocyty, žírné buňky
Finnish Syöttösolut
Italian Tessuto basofilo, Mastociti
Russian TUCHNYE KLETKI, BAZOFILY TKANEVYE, LABROTSITY, БАЗОФИЛЫ ТКАНЕВЫЕ, ЛАБРОЦИТЫ, ТУЧНЫЕ КЛЕТКИ
Croatian MASTOCITI
Latvian Tuklās šūnas
Polish Komórki tuczne, Mastocyty, Labrocyty
Japanese 好塩基球-組織, 肥満細胞, マスト細胞, 組織好塩基球, 肥胖細胞
Norwegian Mastceller, Basofilt vev, Basofile celler i vev
Spanish Basofilo Hístico, Labrocitos, Células Cebadas, Células Mast, basófilo tisular, histiocito basófilo, labrocito, mastocito (célula), mastocito (estructura corporal), mastocito, Basofilo Tisular, Mastocitos
German Basophile, Gewebs-, Mastozyten, Mastzellen, Gewebs-, Mastzellen
Dutch Basofiel, weefsel, Mastocyt, Mestcel, Mestcellen
Portuguese Basófilos de Tecido, Mastócitos