Imaging of mast cells.
Mast cells are a part of the innate immune system implicated in allergic reactions and the regulation of host-pathogen interactions. The distribution, morphology and biochemical composition of mast cells has been studied in detail in vitro and on tissue sections both at the light microscopic and ultrastructural level. More recently, the development of fluorescent reporter strains and intravital imaging modalities has enabled first glimpses of the real-time behavior of mast cells in situ. In this review, we describe commonly used imaging approaches to study mast cells in cell culture as well as within normal and diseased tissues. We further describe the interrogation of mast cell function via imaging by providing a detailed description of mast cell-nerve plexus interactions in the intestinal tract. Together, visualizing mast cells has expanded our view of these cells in health and disease.
['Tikoo|Shweta|S|0000-0001-5850-8075', 'Barki|Natasja|N|', 'Jain|Rohit|R|0000-0002-4905-462X', 'Zulkhernain|Nursafwana S|NS|', 'Buhner|Sabine|S|', 'Schemann|Michael|M|0000-0003-1007-9843', 'Weninger|Wolfgang|W|0000-0003-3133-8699']
D000818:Animals D001491:Basophils D002450:Cell Communication D018929:Cell Culture Techniques D003952:Diagnostic Imaging D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions D006801:Humans D006967:Hypersensitivity D000069416:Intravital Microscopy D008407:Mast Cells D009412:Nerve Fibers
cell lineages and subsets enteric nervous system ex vivo imaging techniques in vivo imaging techniques mast cells/basophils neuro-immune-signaling