Mast cells are potent immune sensors of the tissue microenvironment. Within seconds of activation, they release various preformed biologically active products and initiate the process of de novo synthesis of cytokines, chemokines, and other inflammatory mediators. This process is regulated at multiple levels. Besides the extensively studied IgE and IgG receptors, toll-like receptors, MRGPR, and other protein receptor signaling pathways, there is a critical activation pathway based on cholesterol-dependent, pore-forming cytolytic exotoxins produced by Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. This pathway is initiated by binding the exotoxins to the cholesterol-rich membrane, followed by their dimerization, multimerization, pre-pore formation, and pore formation. At low sublytic concentrations, the exotoxins induce mast cell activation, including degranulation, intracellular calcium concentration changes, and transcriptional activation, resulting in production of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. Higher toxin concentrations lead to cell death. Similar activation events are observed when mast cells are exposed to sublytic concentrations of saponins or some other compounds interfering with the membrane integrity. We review the molecular mechanisms of mast cell activation by pore-forming bacterial exotoxins, and other compounds inducing cholesterol-dependent plasma membrane perturbations. We discuss the importance of these signaling pathways in innate and acquired immunity.

• Klíčová slova
• Ca2+ signaling, cholesterol-dependent cytolysins, cytokine production, listeriolysin O, mast cell, pneumolysin, pore-forming toxins, streptolysin O,
• MeSH
• buněčná membrána imunologie   metabolismus   mikrobiologie   patologie   MeSH
• buněčná smrt MeSH
• buněčné mikroprostředí MeSH
• cholesterol metabolismus   MeSH
• cytokiny metabolismus   MeSH
• cytotoxiny metabolismus   MeSH
• degranulace buněk MeSH
• grampozitivní bakteriální infekce imunologie   metabolismus   mikrobiologie   patologie   MeSH
• grampozitivní bakterie imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• interakce hostitele a patogenu MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mastocyty imunologie   metabolismus   mikrobiologie   patologie   MeSH
• mediátory zánětu metabolismus   MeSH
• vápníková signalizace MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cholesterol MeSH
• cytokiny MeSH
• cytotoxiny MeSH
• mediátory zánětu MeSH

Mast cells (MCs) are long-living immune cells highly specialized in the storage and release of different biologically active compounds and are involved in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. MC degranulation and replacement of MC granules are accompanied by active membrane remodelling. Tetraspanins represent an evolutionary conserved family of transmembrane proteins. By interacting with lipids and other membrane and intracellular proteins, they are involved in organisation of membrane protein complexes and act as "molecular facilitators" connecting extracellular and cytoplasmic signaling elements. MCs express different tetraspanins and MC degranulation is accompanied by changes in membrane organisation. Therefore, tetraspanins are very likely involved in the regulation of MC exocytosis and membrane reorganisation after degranulation. Antiviral response and production of exosomes are further aspects of MC function characterized by dynamic changes of membrane organization. In this review, we pay a particular attention to tetraspanin gene expression in different human and murine MC populations, discuss tetraspanin involvement in regulation of key MC signaling complexes, and analyze the potential contribution of tetraspanins to MC antiviral response and exosome production. In-depth knowledge of tetraspanin-mediated molecular mechanisms involved in different aspects of the regulation of MC response will be beneficial for patients with allergies, characterized by overwhelming MC reactions.

• Klíčová slova
• Allergy, Antiviral immune response, Exosomes, FcεRI, Mast cell degranulation, Mast cells, Tetraspanins,
• MeSH
• degranulace buněk MeSH
• exozómy metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mastocyty imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• tetraspaniny genetika   imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• virové nemoci imunologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• tetraspaniny MeSH