Box 1 Major milestone discoveries in the field of mast cell biology
1863 Friedrich von Recklinghausen identify granulated cells in unstained connective tissues from different species
1878 Identification and description of mast cells by Paul Ehrlich130
1937 Heparin is present in mast cells 131,132
1949 Description of systemic mastocytosis 133
1953 Mast cells contain histamine 134
1956 Demonstration of the involvement of mast cells in anaphylaxis135
1966 Description of mast cell heterogeneity, i.e, mucosal mast cells and connective tissue mast cells 55,56
1970 & 1972 Slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A), later shown to be leukotrienes, was demonstrated to be released after IgE-receptor activation 136,137
1977 Mast cells develop from bone marrow cells 35
1981 Identification of tryptase as the predominant mast cell protease138,139
1982 Prostaglandin D2 shown to be released from mast cells140
1987 Mast cells can express and secrete cytokines141,142
1989 Characterization of the high-affinity IgE-receptor143,144
1989 The central nervous system affects mast cell reactivity145
1990 Identification, cloning and characterization of SCF146
1992 Demonstration that SCF is the main growth and maturation factor for human mast cells 147-150
1995 Identification of the D816V KIT mutation in systemic mastocytosis 151
2004 & 2006 Mast cell proteases detoxify endogenous peptides and venoms152,153
2015 Identification of MRGPRX2 as a receptor causing pseudoallergic reactions 3
2018 Insight into the prenatal development of mast cells31,32