Regulation of Mouse and Human Mast Cell Development, Survival and Function by Stem Cell Factor, the Ligand for the c-ikit/iReceptor

摘要

Stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand for the receptor (SCFR) that is encoded by the c-kit proto-oncogene, has many important effects in mouse and human mast cell development, survival, and function. SCF can promote mast cell survival by suppressing apoptosis, induce mast cell hyperplasia in murine rodents, experimental primates and humans, directly induce SCFR-dependent mast cell mediator release, and significantly modulate the extent of mast cell activation by FcεRI-dependent mechanisms. These findings raise several clinical issues and, in some cases, point to potentially significant therapeutic opportunities