ABSTRACT
I (rat mast cell
protease I
found in small intestine, skin, tongue, intestinal serosa, and lung parenchyma) and
carboxypeptidase
are found in CTMC, but chymase II (rat mast cell
protease II
found in intestine and bronchial epithelium) is dominant in MMC. Both types of cells store
histamine,
albeit in different amounts: MMC about 2 pg/cell and CTMC about 35 pg/cell. Stimulation via the
high
-
affinity IgE receptor
of CTMC leads to the preferential production of
prostaglandin
D
(PGD
), while activated MMCs synthesize
leukotrienes
(LTC
and LTB
) as well as PGD
.
