Roles of mast cells and basophils in innate and acquired immunity

There have been several recent advances in knowledge about mast cells and b asophils in immune responses, of which some are particularly important: a r ole has been found for heparin in the storage of certain proteases and othe r mediators in mast cell cytoplasmic granules; an important role for mast c ells in the development of several chronic aspects of an asthma model in mi ce has been discovered;: and a new approach has been developed, based on th e generation of mast cells from embryonic stem cells in vitro, to investiga te mast cell function in vitro or in vivo.