Mast cell precursors and skin disease

肥大细胞（MC）是慢性皮肤炎症（如特应性湿疹）的关键调节因子，也可引起一组称为肥大细胞增多症的疾病。在这些条件下，MC数量是如何调节的，目前还知之甚少。我们已经确定了一种新的循环前体细胞，引起MC。我们将确定这些前体在皮肤病中的作用，包括湿疹和肥大细胞增多症，目的是缩短这些难以治疗的疾病的病程。

Mast cells (MC) are key regulators of chronic skin inflammation, such as atopic eczema, and can also give rise to a group of diseases called mastocytosis. How MC numbers are regulated in these conditions is poorly understood. We have identified a novel circulating precursor cell that gives rise to MC. We will determine the function of these precursors in skin diseases, including eczema and mastocytosis, with the aim to curtail the course of of these difficult-to-treat conditions.