The possible roles of mast cells in heath and disease have been a topic of interest for over
125 years. Many adaptive or pathological processes affecting the skin or other anatomical
sites have been associated with morphological evidence of mast cell activation, and/or with
changes in mast cell numbers or phenotype. Such observations, taken together with the
known functions of the diverse mediators, cytokines and growth factors which can be
secreted by mast cells, have suggested many potential functions for mast cells in health and …