Mast Cell Neural Interactions in Health and Disease

• Published in: Frontiers in cellular neuroscience Vol. 13; p. 110
• Main Authors: Mittal, Aditya, Sagi, Varun, Gupta, Mihir, Gupta, Kalpna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 20.03.2019; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: blood brain barrier; Cell activation; Cell adhesion & migration; Central nervous system; Chemokines; Cytokines; Degranulation; endothelial cell; Histamine; Inflammation; Kinases; mast cell; Mast cells; Meninges; Nanotubes; Nervous system; Neuropeptides; Neuroscience; Pain; Proteins; Spinal cord; Traps; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; United States > US; blood brain barrier; mast cell; pain; nervous system; inflammation; endothelial cell
• ISSN: 1662-5102; 1662-5102
• DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00110

Mast cells (MCs) are located in the periphery as well as the central nervous system (CNS). Known for sterile inflammation, MCs play a critical role in neuroinflammation, which is facilitated by their close proximity to nerve fibers in the periphery and meninges of the spinal cord and the brain. Multifaceted activation of MCs releasing neuropeptides, cytokines and other mediators has direct effects on the neural system as well as neurovascular interactions. Emerging studies have identified the release of extracellular traps, a phenomenon traditionally meant to ensnare invading pathogens, as a cause of MC-induced neural injury. In this review article, we will discuss mechanisms of MC interaction with the nervous system through degranulation, synthesis, extracellular vesicles (EVs), tunneling nanotubes, and extracellular traps with implications across a variety of pathological conditions.