Mast Cells and Allergic Rhinitis

Cho, Joong Saeng

Review

Journal of Rhinology 1998;5(2):85-91.
Published online November 30, 1998.

Mast Cells and Allergic Rhinitis

Joong Saeng Cho

Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

That mast cells play a role in acute allergic inflammation by releasing various inflammatory mediators, including histamine, leukotrienes (LT), such as LTC4 and LTD4, and prostaglandins (PG), such as PGD2, is well known. Additionally, mast cells contribute to the development of allergic inflammation also through the release of multifunctional cytokines. The incidence of intraepithelial mast cells (IEMC) is found to be greater in nasal mucosa exposed to an allergen, and the cells are thought to play an important role in producing the immediate allergic reaction. Lamina propira mast cells (LPMC) are known to be the dominant source of TH2 cytokine and are responsible for development of the late phases of an allergic reaction They may upregulate the expression of adhesion molecules on the endothelial cells and induce basophil and eosinophil recruitment. Based on these consideration it can be proposed that mast cell is a initiating cell of allergic reaction in target organ and IEMC and LPMC have capacity to make major contribution to both immediate or late phase reaction of allergic rhinitis.

Key Words: Allergic rhinitis;Mast cells;Chemical mediators;Cytokines;Adhesion molecules