Basophils and mast cells are similar but unique secretory cells with a well-documented role in immediate-hypersensitivity reactions. The presence of these cells in various cell mediated hypersensitivity reactions, in tissues of multiple diseases, and as a component of the host reaction to injury and repair in numerous circumstances is well known. Release of stored and newly generated mediators of inflammation from basophils and mast cells contributes to the cascade of pathogenetic events in circumstances under which these release reactions occur. Despite insights acquired through studies of...

8 References . 95 Subject Index 101 VIII 1 Introduction Mast cells and basophils were first described by Ehrlich (1877, 1878, 1879). Although these cells share many functional properties, they can readily be distinguished using morphological criteria (Dvorak 1986a; Dvorak et al. 1983a, 1983c; Galli et al. 1984). The identification of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and high affinity IgE receptors on mast cells and basophils was instrumental to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the role of these cells in immediate hypersensitivity reactions (Ishizaka and Ishizaka 1979; Ishizaka et al....

Basophils and mast cells are similar but unique secretory cells with a well-documented role in immediate-hypersensitivity reactions. The presence of these cells in various cell- mediated hypersensitivity reactions, in tissues of multiple diseases, and as a component of the host reaction to injury and repair in numerous circumstances is well known. Release of stored and newly generated mediators of inflammation from basophils and mast cells contributes to the cascade of pathogenetic events in circumstances under which these release reactions occur. Despite insights acquired through studies of...