REGULATION OF MOUSE AND HUMAN MAST-CELL DEVELOPMENT, SURVIVAL AND FUNCTION BY STEM-CELL FACTOR, THE LIGAND FOR THE C-KIT RECEPTOR

Stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand for the receptor (SCFR) that is enc oded by the c-kit proto-oncogene, has many important effects in mouse and human mast cell development, survival, and function. SCF can promo te mast cell survival by suppressing apoptosis, induce mast cell hyper plasia in murine rodents, experimental primates and humans, directly i nduce SCFR-dependent mast cell mediator release, and significantly mod ulate the extent of mast cell activation by Fc epsilon RI-dependent me chanisms. These findings raise several clinical issues and, in some ca ses, point to potentially significant therapeutic opportunities.