AI Summary
Immunobiology and Epigenetics and the University of Münster discovered that mast cells can capture and utilize neutrophils during allergic reactions. This new finding provides insight into how the immune system functions during allergic responses and inflammation. Inflammation is a crucial response that can protect the body but can also lead to tissue destruction if excessive. Understanding the interaction between different immune cells during allergic reactions can help in developing new strategies to manage allergies and inflammation-related diseases.
Known for their role in allergic reactions, mast cells have long been recognised as key players in our immune system. When they encounter allergens, they release chemicals that trigger typical allergy symptoms such as tissue swelling and inflammation. Now, researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg and the University of Münster have discovered a hidden talent of mast cells: they can capture and use another type of immune cell called neutrophils. This surprising discovery sheds new light on how our immune system works, particularly during allergic reactions.
Inflammation is the body’s response to harmful stimuli, characterized by heat, pain, redness, swelling, and loss of tissue function. When balanced, inflammation protects the body by clearing harmful agents and initiating tissue repair. However, excessive inflammation can cause tissue destruction and disease. Key players in this process are various immune cells, which work together during inflammation. The type of immune cells involved often varies depending on the harmful stimulus, influencing the outcome of the inflammatory response.
Immune cell trapping during allergic responses
Mast cells, residing in tissues and critical for initiating inflammation, are filled with granules containing pro-inflammatory substances. These granules are released upon encountering potential dangers, including allergens, causing allergic reactions. In many people, mast cells also react to seemingly harmless environmental factors, which then act as allergens and cause allergies. The interaction between mast cells and other immune cells at sites of allergic responses has been largely unexplored.
A research group at the MPI of