Overview of Mast Cell Biology -- Paul Ehrlich’’s “;Mastzellen”— From Aniline Dyes to DNA Chip Arrays -- The Human Mast Cell -- Mast Cells in Allergy and Autoimmunity -- Identification of Mast Cells in Culture and in Tissue -- Analysis of MCT and MCTC Mast Cells in Tissue -- Mast Cell Ultrastructure and Staining in Tissue -- Expression of Cell Surface Antigens on Mast Cells -- Identification of Mast Cells in the Cellular Response to Myocardial Infarction -- Development of Mast Cells In Vitro -- Growth of Human Mast Cells From Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood-Derived CD34+ Pluripotent Progenitor Cells -- Culture of Human Mast Cells From Hemopoietic Progenitors -- Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Intestinal Mast Cells -- Mast Cell Signaling and Gene Expression -- Activation of Nuclear Factor-?B -- Analysis of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation -- Microarray and Gene-Clustering Analysis -- Techniques to Study Fc?RI Signaling -- Mast Cell Expression and Release of Inflammatory Mediators of Inflammatory Mediators -- Human Mast Cell Proteases -- Mast Cell Histamine and Cytokine Assays -- Measurement of Mast Cell Cytokine Release by Multiplex Assay -- Assays for Histamine-Releasing Factors -- Assays for Nitric Oxide Expression -- Immunohistological Detection of Growth Factors and Cytokines in Tissue Mast Cells -- Mast Cell Interactions With Other Cell Types -- Endothelial Cell Activation by Mast Cell Mediators -- Co-Culture of Mast Cells With Fibroblasts -- Detection of ? Class Switching and IgE Synthesis in Human B Cells -- Novel Aspects of Mast Cell Activation and Regulation -- Gene Silencing Using Small Interference RNA in Mast Cells -- Mast Cell Activation by Lipoproteins -- Mast Cell Activation by Stress -- Roles of Mast Cells in Host Defense -- In Vivo Models for Studying Mast Cell-Dependent Responses to Bacterial Infection -- Bacterial Activation of Mast Cells -- Activation of Mast Cells by Streptolysin O and Lipopolysaccharide -- Analysis of Programmed Cell Death in Mast Cells -- Mast Cell Apoptosis.

The mast cell, long implicated in causing allergic reactions, may also be involved in many other disease processes, including cancer, heart disease, parasitic disease, atherosclerosis, asthma, and arthritis. In Mast Cells: Methods and Protocols, hands-on experts describe in detail their best techniques for the isolation, culture, and study of both activation and signaling in human mast cells. These readily reproducible methods take advantage of the latest advances in molecular biology, technology, and information science. The techniques provide a sound base of methodology for mast cell research and include methods for the identification of mast cells, the development of mast cells in vitro, the study of mast cell signaling and gene expression, and the measurement of mast cell expression of inflammatory mediators. Additional chapters cover methods for studying mast cell interactions with other cell types (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and B cells), the roles of mast cells in host defense, and mast cell apoptosis. A survey of mast cell biology offers insight into its history and the implications for adaptive immunity. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principles behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and highly practical, Mast Cells: Methods and Protocols provides mast cell researchers with reproducible accounts of basic and advanced molecular and cellular techniques used in studying this fascinating, multifunctional cell.