Mast Cells and Lipid Mediators

Human mast cells are potent effector cells in host defense mechanisms of innate and acquired immunity, including inflammatory diseases such as asthma and atherosclerosis. Mast cells originate from pluripotent hematopoietic progenitors in the bone marrow. Activation of mast cells by different stimuli triggers the release of a large range of mediators, including de novo synthesized eicosanoids which are highly biologically active lipid mediators. For the generation of lipid mediators, cytoplasmic lipid droplets have been shown to function as a major intracellular pool of arachidonic acid, the precursor for eicosanoids biosynthesis. The article summarizes current knowledge on mast cell biosynthesis of lipid mediator and the role in inflammation.