[Mast cells and cytokines--a new insight on the participation of mast cells in inflammatory reactions].

Tissue mast cells are multifunctional immune cells and have been implicated in allergic and inflammatory reactions. They used to be regarded merely as a source of histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes which mediated the symptoms of the acute allergic reaction but more recent work has indicated they are involved in many inflammatory reactions. The discovery of production and secretion of a unique array of cytokines by these cells has suggested new ways in which they could influence to the development of inflammation. Many experiments have disclosed that mast cells owning to cytokines can not only initiate but also regulate and modulate this process. With the results come the realisation that these cytokines might represent important effector molecules in a variety of pathologic and physiologic processes where mast cells involvement had been postulated but an understanding of the mechanisms remained obscure. The aim of this article is introduction the biology of mast cells and presentation the information concern production and secretion of cytokines by these cells like also influence of these biologically active molecules on inflammatory process.