What are these mast cells? Is this the cause of your allergy?

Do you also start sneezing when you touch a speck of dust? Or when you get bitten by an ant or a mosquito, the area becomes red, swollen, and itches unbearably? Many of us have had similar experiences. So, today we are going to talk about a key player responsible for this reaction that occurs inside our body at times like these. That is "Mast Cells ".

Simply put, who are these mast cells?

Mast cells are special soldiers in your immune system. Just like our country has an army to protect it, our body also has an immune system to protect it. These mast cells are the guards in that system, always on alert.

These cells are produced in our bone marrow. They then travel through the blood and settle in various tissues of our body. That's where their job begins. Their main job is to protect us from various threats to the body.

But sometimes these mast cells become overactive. That's when the problems start. They can cause a huge reaction to even harmless things like dust mites or food. We call these conditions 'allergies' or 'allergic asthma'. In some severe cases, the activity of these mast cells can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.

How do these mast cells work? Let's understand this 'alarm system'!

Think of your body as a big fortress. Mast cells are like an alert system installed everywhere on the walls of that fortress. This alarm system is always ready to protect the body from external enemies, that is, pathogens such as viruses and bacteria, and toxins such as snake venom and wasp venom.

Let's look at how this process happens in a little more detail:

1. Identifying the enemy: First, when a new germ or allergen enters your body, a part of the immune system called B-cells recognizes it.

2. Production of special weapons: After recognizing the enemy, B-cells begin to produce a type of antibody that is specific to that enemy. These antibodies are called immunoglobulin E (IgE) .

3. Arming the guards: These manufactured IgE antibodies go and stick to the surface of the mast cells, the heroes of our story. It's like giving a guard a weapon.

4. The alarm goes off: Now the mast cells are on high alert with their IgE weapons. The next time the same enemy (i.e. the same germ or allergen) enters the body again, it will be caught by the IgE that is attached to the mast cells. That is when the mast cells are ``activated''.

5. Histamine attack: When activated, mast cells release a large number of chemicals stored within them at once. The most important of these chemicals is histamine .

Let's take a look at what happens in our bodies when a chemical called histamine is released.

Now you understand what happens to the body when we have an allergy, right? Although all of this is done to protect us, sometimes this response becomes too severe.

Where in the body are these mast cells most abundant?

These guards are mostly stationed at the main entrances through which germs and allergens from the outside environment enter us. That is:

• Respiratory tract and lungs: Protect yourself from things that come with the air we breathe.
• Digestive system (GI tract): Protect yourself from germs that come with the things we eat and drink.
• Skin: Protect yourself from things that enter through the skin's surface.
• These cells are also found around blood vessels and nerves .

What are the possible diseases associated with mast cells?

When mast cells malfunction, various diseases can occur. Some of them are common and well-known.

Be aware of these symptoms.

Symptoms of mast cell disease may include:

• Skin redness, itching, feeling of warmth.
• Swelling (edema) in various parts of the body.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

If you experience these symptoms frequently, it is very important to see a doctor for advice rather than self-medicate.

How does a doctor diagnose these conditions? What are the treatments?

If your doctor suspects that you have a mast cell disease based on your symptoms, he or she may order various tests.

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Allergy skin test
• Sometimes a small sample of bone marrow or skin is taken for testing (a `biopsy`).

Treatment options vary from patient to patient and depending on the nature of the condition. Common treatments may include:

• Avoiding allergens: Identifying what you are allergic to and staying away from them.
• Medications: Medications given to control symptoms. Examples include antihistamines and montelukast.
• Mast cell stabilizers: These drugs work by stopping the release of chemicals like histamine from mast cells.
• Emergency medications: Medications like epinephrine for severe anaphylaxis.

Finally, are mast cells good or bad?

Most people only hear about mast cells when they have a troublesome condition like an allergy, so they may think they're a bad thing. But in fact, mast cells are an essential and very important part of our body's defense system.

Most of the time, they protect us from diseases and germs. It's when they get a little too enthusiastic that we get allergic reactions. Like a bunch of overzealous guards who set the whole village on fire to catch a little thief.

So, the next time you sneeze or scratch yourself, give these little mast cells a heartfelt thank you. Because they work so hard to protect you!

Mast Cells, Allergy, Histamine, Immune System, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Hives