KIT is a cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor whose ligand stem cell factor (SCF) triggers homodimerization and activation of downstream effector pathways involved in cell survival, proliferation, homing, or differentiation. KIT-activating mutations are major oncogenic drivers in subsets of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in mast cell leukemia, and in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The ...

Mediator release assays analyze in vitro immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated degranulation and secretion of mediators by effector cells, such as mast cells basophils, upon stimulation with serial dilutions putative allergens. Therefore, these represent an essential tool that mimics the vivo process, which occurs allergen exposure sensitized patients or skin prick tests. Additionally, are usually em...

Mast cells are not only important effector cells in immediate hypersensitivity reactions and immune responses to pathogens but also can contribute to T cell-mediated disorders. However, the mechanisms by which mast cells might influence T cells in such settings are not fully understood. We find that mast cells can enhance proliferation and cytokine production in multiple T cell subsets. Mast ce...

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and HCL-like disorders, including HCL-variant, are disorders of heterogeneous mature lymphoid B-cells known for their hairy infiltration accompanied by a specific genetic profile, various clinical presentations, and, as they uncommon hematological malignancies characterized pancytopenia, the need appropriate therapy. Sometimes HCL creates diagnostic challenges clinicia...

conclusions it was demonstrated that the presence of del6q21 in b-cll patients indicates poor prognosis and on the contrary, presence of del17p13 points at the good prognostic value of the disease. results deletion of 17p13 was found in 11 (16.6%) and deletion 6q21 was present in 5 (7.5%). statistical analyses were performed to investigate the correlation of these molecular-cytogenetic findings...

Immunological functions of mast cells remain poorly understood. Studies in Kit mutant mice suggest key roles for mast cells in certain antibody- and T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. However, Kit mutations affect multiple cell types of both immune and nonimmune origin. Here, we show that targeted insertion of Cre-recombinase into the mast cell carboxypeptidase A3 locus deleted mast cells in ...

Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of diseases with a young median age at diagnosis. Usually indolent and self-limited in childhood, the disease can exhibit aggressive progression in mid-adulthood. Our objectives were to describe the characteristics of the disease when diagnosed among elderly patients, for which rare data are available.The French Reference Center conducted a retrospective mu...

Current clinical and translational studies have shown that mast cell plays a pivotal role in multiple fibrotic diseases including scleroderma. However, the lack of mature human mast cell culture model exhibits a major obstacle for further dissection of cytokines and signaling molecules required for mast cell mediated fibrosis in various diseases. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor is a mast...