Skip to content

How to activate mast cells: Receptors and ligands Master Table (part 1)

There are many receptors on mast cells.  The molecules that bind to these receptors are called ligands.  Different receptors can cause activation in different ways.

I am posting this table a little at a time as I anticipate getting a lot of questions about it.  I put this together for my own reference and I didn’t keep track of all sources.  I am hoping to go through the literature again and track this at some point.

These tables are not exhaustive, and I’ll add to them over time as I have the chance.

Receptor Ligand (molecules that bind to the receptor) Result
0X40 0X40 ligand Suppression of mast cell activation
A2A, A2B, A3 Adenosine At low concentration, degranulation:

histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin

De novo: IL-1b, IL-3, IL-4, IL-8, IL-13

 

At high concentration, inhibits FcεRI degranulation

C3α receptor C3α De novo:
IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, TNF, GM-CSF, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5

 

Degranulation : histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin

 

Increases IgE and IgG dependent degranulation

C5α receptor C5α Degranulation : histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin

 

Cannabinoid CB2 receptor 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol, anandamide Suppression of mast cell activity
CCR1 CCL3 (MIP1α), CCL5 (RANTES) Degranulation : histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin
CCR3 CCL11 No degranulation
Increases IgE dependent secretion: IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, TNF, GM-CSF, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5
CCR4 CCL2 (MCP-1) No degranulation, reléase of cytokines
CCR5 CCL3 (MIP1α), CCL5 (RANTES), CCL4 (MIP1β) No degranulation, reléase of cytokines
CD200 receptor CD200 (OX2) Inhibitory
Cd300α receptor Eosinophilic granule proteins Inhibitory
CD47 (integrin associated protein, IAP) Integrins Histamine secretion
CD48 E. coli, M. tuberculosis Degranulation : histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin

 

De novo : TNFa, IL-6

CD72 CD100 Inhibits CKIT activation
CKIT receptor tyrosine kinase (CD117) Stem cell factor De novo:
PGD2, leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4, PAF, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, TNF, GM-CSF, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5

 

Increased IgE dependent degranulation: histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin

Corticotropin/ corticotropin releasing hormone receptor CRH, urocortin Secretion of VEGF
CX3CL1 Fractalkine No degranulation
CX3CR1 Chemokines No degranulation, reléase of cytokines
Estrogen receptor Estrogens Increased IgE dependent degranulation: histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin
ETA Endothelin-1 Degranulation: Histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin, renin

 

De novo: TNFa, IL-6, VEGF, TGF-b1

ETB Endothelin-1 Unknown
FcαR (CD89) IgA Unknown
FcγRIIA, FcγRI, FcγRIIIA IgG/antigen Degranulation: Histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymase, heparin, chondroitin, renin

 

De novo:
PGD2, leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4, PAF, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, TNF, GM-CSF, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5

FcγRIIIB IgG/antigen Cannot induce activation
FcεRI IgE with or without antigen Degranulation: Histamine, tryptase, carboxypeptide, chymas, heparin, chondroitin, renin

 

De novo:
PGD2, leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4, PAF, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, TNF, GM-CSF, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5