Mast cells (MCs) contribute to the pathogenesis of a multitude of diseases that include MC-driven disorders such as urticaria, type I allergies, and mastocytosis as well as autoimmune and other inflammatory disorders and malignant tumors. Here, we review and discuss the results of studies that identified and characterized how MCs contribute to disease and, importantly, what strategies may be used to target MCs and MC effects therapeutically. Specifically, we discuss the most common approaches for investigating the role and relevance of MCs in various diseases. We also review current therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating MC numbers, inhibiting MCs and/or preventing MC activation, modulating MC signal transduction and protection from the effects of MC mediators.

中文翻译：

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肥大细胞作为疾病和治疗目标的驱动力

肥大细胞（MC）促成多种疾病的发病机理，包括MC驱动的疾病，例如荨麻疹，I型过敏和肥大细胞增多症，以及自身免疫和其他炎性疾病和恶性肿瘤。在这里，我们回顾并讨论了确定和表征MC如何导致疾病的研究结果，以及重要的是，可以使用哪些策略来靶向治疗MC和MC疗效。具体而言，我们讨论了调查MC在各种疾病中的作用和相关性的最常用方法。我们还审查了当前的治疗方法，旨在调节MC数量，抑制MC和/或预防MC激活，调节MC信号转导和保护免受MC介体的影响。