Human mast cells are myeloid cells derived from human pluripotential CD34+ stem cells. Normal mast cells exhibit a myeloid immunophenotype characterized by the expression of CD117, CD33 and Fc epsilon RI in the absence of reactivity for CD14, CD15 and lymphoid-lineage-associated antigens. Multiparametric flow-cytometric studies have shown that mast cells from mastocytosis display unique immunophenotypic characteristics, including coexpression of CD2 and CD25 antigens together with abnormally high levels of the activation-related antigens CD35, CD63 and CD69 among others. Such aberrant immunophenotypic features are of great relevance in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease, flow-cytometric immunophenotyping of mast cells representing the most sensitive method for the diagnosis of tissue involvement in mastocytosis. From the pathogenetic point of view, the immunophenotypical patterns described suggest the existence of profound changes regarding the adhesion and activation status of mast cells in mastocytosis and may represent a useful tool for a better understanding of some pathophysiological aspects of the disease.
Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel