REVIEW article
Front. Allergy
Sec. Skin Allergy
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/falgy.2025.1668742
The recent advances of mast cells in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis
Provisionally accepted
- Fuzhou First Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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Mast cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by itch, eczema, and barrier dysfunction. These immune cells are abundant in the skin and are activated in response to allergens, irritants, and microbial products. Upon activation, mast cells release a variety of mediators, including histamine, proteases, cytokines, and chemokines, which contribute to the inflammation and pruritus observed in AD. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of mast cell-derived IL-4, IL-13, and IL-31 in promoting Th2-type immune responses and itch sensation. Moreover, interactions between mast cells and sensory neurons may further exacerbate neuroimmune inflammation. Mast cells also influence skin barrier integrity by modulating keratinocyte function and disrupting tight junctions. Their numbers and activation state are often elevated in AD lesions, correlating with disease severity. Targeting mast cell activation or blocking their mediators has shown promise in preclinical models, offering potential therapeutic strategies. Overall, mast cells are increasingly recognized as key contributors to the initiation and amplification of AD, making them an important focus for understanding disease mechanisms and developing new treatments.
Keywords: atopic dermatitis, Mast Cells, FcεRI, MRGPRX2, c-kit
Received: 18 Jul 2025; Accepted: 04 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Xiao, Zhuo, Li and Tan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Rui Li, Fuzhou First Hospital, Fuzhou, China
Yingjian Tan, Fuzhou First Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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