| Summary: | 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.
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