Mican J M, Metcalfe D D
Mast Cell Physiology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1990 Oct;86(4 Pt 2):677-83. doi: 10.1016/s0091-6749(05)80240-4.
The significance of the mast cell in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases continues to receive attention. Increased numbers of mast cells are found in the synovial tissue and fluid of patients with inflammatory arthritides, and these mast cells can be activated by many of the substances found in inflammatory synovial fluid. This activation results in the release of mediators that are capable of amplifying the inflammatory process within the joint space. Recent research has shown that mast cells also produce a variety of cytokines and hematopoietic growth factors that may have paracrine and autocrine functions that are important to the development of the inflammatory cell infiltrate. Increased numbers of mast cells are also found in many fibrotic conditions, including scleroderma. These mast cells, directly or through mediator generation, affect the function of endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and growth factors important to the proliferation and function of these cells. A clearer understanding of mast cell involvement in the inflammatory arthritides and fibrotic processes should lead to new therapeutic strategies.
肥大细胞在风湿性疾病发病机制中的重要性持续受到关注。在炎性关节炎患者的滑膜组织和滑液中发现肥大细胞数量增加，并且这些肥大细胞可被炎性滑液中发现的许多物质激活。这种激活导致能够放大关节腔内炎症过程的介质释放。最近的研究表明，肥大细胞还产生多种细胞因子和造血生长因子，这些因子可能具有旁分泌和自分泌功能，对炎性细胞浸润的发展很重要。在包括硬皮病在内的许多纤维化病症中也发现肥大细胞数量增加。这些肥大细胞直接或通过介质生成影响内皮细胞、成纤维细胞以及对这些细胞的增殖和功能很重要的生长因子的功能。对肥大细胞参与炎性关节炎和纤维化过程的更清晰理解应该会带来新的治疗策略。
