Mast Cells

Mast Cells: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition expands upon the previous edition with current, detailed reviews that cover topics of interest to mast cell neophytes and cognoscenti alike.  With new chapters on methods for the enumeration of tissue mast cells and isolation of mature mast cells and mast cell progenitors from mammalian tissues, Danio rerio (zebrafish) model in the study of mast cell development and function, the functions of mast cells in human health and disease and methods for the isolation, methods for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms of mast cell activation and their effector functions, assays for the detection and analysis of mast cell secretory and cell surface phenotype and, mast cell activation state, and experimental mouse models of disease that have been deemed useful for the assessment of mast cell functions in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune response in cancer, tissue fibrosis, auto-inflammation and allergicdisease. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and cutting-edge, Mast Cells: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition provides a sampler of useful methods and techniques in the further study of mast cell biology.

• allergic disease
• auto-inflammation
• cancer
• cell surface phenotype
• developmental ontology
• disease
• enumeration of tissue mast cells
• experimental mouse models of disease
• isolation of mature mast cells
• mast cell activation state
• mast cell biology
• mast cell progenitors from mammalian tissues
• mast cell secretory
• mast cells in human health
• methods for the isolation
• phylogenetic profile
• tissue fibrosis

“Cutting-edge, easily reproducible protocols and methods for the isolation of mast cells and investigation of the molecular mechanisms of their activation and functions can help investigators plan and carry out their experiments. … aimed primarily at laboratory researchers but also may be useful for all specialists who are interested in mast cell biology. The book is well written, illustrated, summarizes extensive recommendations of world-renowned experts in the field and offers an up-to-date and in-depth look into mast cell biology.” (Pavel Kolkhir, World Allergy Organization, WAO Medical Book Reviews, worldallergy.org, July, 2016)

• Department of Medical Genetics, The Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

  Michael R. Hughes, Kelly M. McNagny

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