The College of Optometrists

Just wondering - but in type one acute hypersensitivity (alergy) the mast cells become sensitised to a particular allergen (such as pollen car fur etc).

In someone with several alleriges:-

Does that mean there are loads of types of mast cells - each specialising in detecting one particular allergen,

or is there one mega mast cell which is able to degranulate to all of the allergens.

confused - palfo

(I think its lots of groups of mast cells each sensitised to a particular allergen) and when the mast cells in a particular group finally pop off - the sensitivity to that particular allergen diminishes.) palfitis

Mast cells do not have such specificity. Each cell has up to 10,000,000 high affinity Immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptors. As the cell wanders about it becomes coated with lots of surface IgE. Each IgE has a specific allergen. When the surface IgE meets its specific allergen it causes degranulation of the mast cell. Therefore each mast cell can be activated by many different allergens. Hope this makes sense.