Term Name: mast cell
Synonyms: histaminocyte, labrocyte, mastocyte, tissue basophil
Definition: A cell that is found in almost all tissues containing numerous basophilic granules and capable of releasing large amounts of histamine and heparin upon activation. Progenitors leave bone marrow and mature in connective and mucosal tissue. Mature mast cells are found in all tissues, except the bloodstream. Their phenotype is CD117-high, CD123-negative, CD193-positive, CD200R3-positive, and FceRI-high. Stem-cell factor (KIT-ligand; SCF) is the main controlling signal of their survival and development.
Ontology: Cell Ontology [CL:0000097]

Relationships
develops from: mast cell progenitor
is a type of: histamine secreting cell myeloid leukocyte
has subtype: connective tissue type mast cell mucosal type mast cell
capable_of: heparin proteoglycan biosynthetic process histamine production involved in inflammatory response positive regulation of leukocyte chemotaxis positive regulation of peripheral tolerance induction positive regulation of type 2 immune response prostaglandin production involved in inflammatory response
has_high_plasma_membrane_amount: high affinity immunoglobulin epsilon receptor subunit alpha mast/stem cell growth factor receptor
has_part: secretory granule
has_plasma_membrane_part: C-C chemokine receptor type 3 cell surface glycoprotein CD200 receptor 3
lacks_plasma_membrane_part: interleukin-3 receptor class 2 alpha chain