TITLE:
Mast Cells: The Key to Multiple Sclerosis?
AUTHORS:
Per Gøran Krüger
KEYWORDS:
Multiple Sclerosis, Mast Cells, Histamine, Mast Cell Proteases, Socio-Cultural Factors, Metabolic Factors, Mental Stress, Catestatin, Phtalates, Female, Male, Relapsing-Remitting
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Neuroscience,
Vol.4 No.2,
April
22,
2014
ABSTRACT: Mast cells are present in high numbers in the border-zones of the multiple sclerosis-plaques. They are located in small clusters along capillaries and venules, and they are more abundant in females than in men. Mast cells can be stimulated to release specific mediators such as histamine, resulting in oedema formation, as well as proteases that may cause demyelination, by several different activation mechanisms. We hypothesize that a putative mast cell activation may be induced by diet factor(s) as well as long lasting mental stress that may lead to the release of catestatin, as well as ACTH released from the pituitary gland. Given a natural flux of mast cell recovery and activation, a putative phenomenon of massive release of mediators and “silent” reload periods may explain the relapsing-remitting phases of multiple sclerosis.