Mast cells are critical for the limitation of thrombin-induced skin inflammation.

Thrombin, a key player in coagulation, is widely held to induce and promote inflammation. As of now, the features, kinetics and control of thrombin's proinflammatory effects on the skin remain to be characterized in detail. We, therefore, injected thrombin into the ear skin of mice and observed strong, dose-dependent and transient ear swelling responses as well as mast cell (MC) degranulation.

Murine and human mast cell progenitors.

The development of mature mast cells (MCs) from hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as the identification and characterization of committed progenitor cells are a current focus of mast cell research. Most published reports in this area are on the origin and differentiation of MCs in mice. Evidence for the human system, i.

A novel method to generate and culture human mast cells: Peripheral CD34+ stem cell-derived mast cells (PSCMCs).

The identification and characterization of human mast cell (MC) functions are hindered by the shortage of MC populations suitable for investigation. Here, we present a novel technique for generating large numbers of well differentiated and functional human MCs from peripheral stem cells (=peripheral stem cell-derived MCs, PSCMCs). Innovative and key features of this technique include 1) the use of stem cell concentrates, which are routinely discarded by blood banks, as the source of CD34+ stem cells, 2) cell culture in serum-free medium and 3) the addition of LDL as well as selected cytokines.