Aim.The role of mast cells in cell-cell immune interactions has received increasing attention, although their functional interactionwith neutrophils still remains to be clarified in tumors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association betweenmast cells and neutrophils in a series of gastric carcinomas (GC).Patients and Methods.52 surgically resected GC specimens wereroutinely processed for both light and electron microscopy. Only cases showing both mast cells and neutrophils in the tumor stromawere considered in the analysis.Results.Only 9 GC (M : F = 5 : 4; age range: 50–82 years) showed both mast cells and neutrophilsin the tumor stroma. At ultrathin sections, we identified heterotypic aggregation and intermingling of mast cells and neutrophils.Mast cells had mature phenotype and showed full complement of granules with homogeneous, scroll, particle, and mixed pattern.In addition, we found normal-appearing or early apoptosis showing neutrophils.Conclusion.Our histological findings showed thelikely interaction between mast cells and neutrophils in GC. We hypothesize that the granular content of mast cells may be releasedin small quantity through a mechanism called “kiss-and-run fusion,” which is alternative to well-known massive anaphylactic orpiecemeal degranulation.
Mast Cell Interaction with Neutrophils in Human Gastric Carcinomas: Ultrastructural Observations
IENI, ANTONIO;BARRESI, Valeria;BRANCA, GIOVANNI;TUCCARI, Giovanni;CARUSO, Rosario
2016-01-01
Abstract
Aim.The role of mast cells in cell-cell immune interactions has received increasing attention, although their functional interactionwith neutrophils still remains to be clarified in tumors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association betweenmast cells and neutrophils in a series of gastric carcinomas (GC).Patients and Methods.52 surgically resected GC specimens wereroutinely processed for both light and electron microscopy. Only cases showing both mast cells and neutrophils in the tumor stromawere considered in the analysis.Results.Only 9 GC (M : F = 5 : 4; age range: 50–82 years) showed both mast cells and neutrophilsin the tumor stroma. At ultrathin sections, we identified heterotypic aggregation and intermingling of mast cells and neutrophils.Mast cells had mature phenotype and showed full complement of granules with homogeneous, scroll, particle, and mixed pattern.In addition, we found normal-appearing or early apoptosis showing neutrophils.Conclusion.Our histological findings showed thelikely interaction between mast cells and neutrophils in GC. We hypothesize that the granular content of mast cells may be releasedin small quantity through a mechanism called “kiss-and-run fusion,” which is alternative to well-known massive anaphylactic orpiecemeal degranulation.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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