What exactly is a mast cell?
Mast cells are immune cells that live mainly in tissues rather than circulating in the blood. Their precursors originate in the bone marrow and travel through the bloodstream before developing into mature mast cells within tissues. They are especially common in the skin, gut lining and airways, and they are also found close to blood vessels and sensory nerves.
Their location is important. Mast cells are positioned in places where the immune system may need to respond quickly to something happening in the surrounding tissue.
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Inside a mast cell are small storage compartments called granules. These contain pre-formed substances, including histamine, tryptase and heparin. When a mast cell receives an appropriate signal, it can release the contents of these granules within seconds in a process called degranulation. This speed is one reason mast cells can produce such immediate effects during an allergic reaction. Some of their most powerful mediators are already stored and ready for release.
