Immunopharmacology of Mast Cells and Basophils

There has been a steady and continued research effort directed to understanding both the function and the role of mast cells and basophils ever since these cells were first described at the end of the nineteenth century. One of the most significant advances has perhaps been the appreciation of the fact that mast cells do not represent a single homogenous population of cells: they display heterogeneity at the morphological, biochemical and functional levels. The one characteristic that unites all types of mast cells and basophils appears to be the possession of the high affinity membrane receptor for immunoglobulin E, through which the cells may be stimulated. This volume begins with a review of the origin and development of mast cells and basophils. It continues by reviewing our knowledge of the stimuli to mast cells and basophils and the biochemical mechanisms which link the signal generated by stimulus to the response machinery of the cell. Further chapters deal with the drug control of mast cell and basophil responses, the heterogeneity of the cells' functions and the mediators' release by the cells, along with the morphological aspects of the cells' function. This book is completed by a selection of examples which examine the role of the mast cells or basophils in lung, skin and gastrointestinal tract. However, the role of the mast cell with regard to normal physiology, remains an open question. This book aims to provide an up-to-date account of mast cell and basophil biology, together with an insight into the functional relevance of these cells in some tissue types.