While the role of mast cells in allergic reactions is unequivocal, their precise functions in
asthma remain controversial. Mast cells uniquely populate all vascularized organs and
tissues, including the upper and lower respiratory tree, even in healthy individuals.
Histologic evidence suggests that asthma is accompanied by a mast cell hyperplasia in the
inflamed mucosal epithelium and the adjacent smooth muscle. The mechanisms
responsible for constitutive mast cell development have been partly elucidated. Moreover …