Traina Giovanna
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, 06126 Perugia, Italy. Tel.: +39 075 5857977; Fax: +39 075 5857904; E-mail:
J Integr Neurosci. 2017;16(s1):S69-S83. doi: 10.3233/JIN-170068.
Mast cells (MCs) are mainly known for their involvement on allergic reactions through degranulation and release of vasoactive, inflammatory and nociceptive mediators. Upon encountering an allergen, MCs are first responders, true sensors of the environment, actually they respond to a wide range of "danger" signals both immunological and non-immunological in rapid and selective manner. They secrete both preformed and newly synthesized mediators acting as effectors in relationship between nervous, vascular and immune systems. For this peculiarity, MCs are "master regulators" and key players of the immune system as well as important source of essential and beneficial mediators with crucial roles in the regulation of various physiological processes. MCs are unique cells with multiple capabilities. It has well known that MCs are critical for the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease. MCs exert their effect through alteration of vascular permeability and recruitment of inflammatory cells. While a functional involvement of peripheral MCs in inflammatory conditions is well established, the role of Central Nervous System MCs is not well understood yet. Increasing evidence indicate that in the brain, the inflammation is strongly involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. In this review, we discuss some aspects of the current knowledge of MCs role in the brain and their potential role as therapeutic emerging target for neural diseases.
肥大细胞（MCs）主要因其通过脱颗粒以及释放血管活性、炎症和伤害性介质而参与过敏反应而闻名。遇到过敏原时，肥大细胞是第一反应者，是真正的环境传感器，实际上它们以快速且选择性的方式对广泛的免疫和非免疫“危险”信号作出反应。它们分泌预先形成的和新合成的介质，在神经、血管和免疫系统之间的关系中充当效应器。由于这种特殊性，肥大细胞是免疫系统的“主要调节者”和关键参与者，也是在各种生理过程调节中起关键作用的必需和有益介质的重要来源。肥大细胞是具有多种功能能力的独特细胞。众所周知，肥大细胞在炎症性疾病的发病机制中至关重要。肥大细胞通过改变血管通透性和募集炎症细胞发挥作用。虽然外周肥大细胞在炎症状态下的功能参与已得到充分证实，但中枢神经系统肥大细胞的作用尚未得到很好的理解。越来越多的证据表明，在大脑中，炎症与神经退行性疾病和神经精神疾病的发病机制密切相关。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了目前关于肥大细胞在大脑中的作用及其作为神经疾病新兴治疗靶点的潜在作用的一些知识。
