Selective expression of a C-type lectin receptor, Clec12b, on skin mast cells.

Mast cells (MCs) are present in various organs including the skin, peritoneal cavity, lung, and intestine and involved in the development of allergic diseases and host defense against infection. However, the regulatory mechanism of mast cell activation remains incompletely understood. We found in a database that Clec12b encoding a C-type lectin receptor Clec12b is preferentially expressed in skin MCs in mice.