Editorial [Hot Topic: Targeting Mast Cells and Basophils in Allergy and Beyond: Emerging Concepts (Executive Guest Editor: Petr Heneberg)]

Since the times of P. Ehrlich, F. D. von Recklinghausen, and O.Westphal, the research on mast cells and basophils made significant progression towards the recognition of their involvement in antimicrobial functions and of their role in mobilizing inflammation in wound healing, allergy, and autoimmunity. However, the role of mast cells in normal physiology is still poorly understood. Only in recent years, these cells are increasingly recognized as important effectors in number of pathways related mostly to tissue remodeling. The mast cells are capable to orchestrate inflammatory reactions and angiogenesis, they are frequently present near pre-neoplastic epithelial cells, etc. Absolute mast cell deficiency, as in the cross of Min mice to the C57BL/6-KitWsh/Wsh mice, can have overreaching immunological consequences.