Hughes M.R., McNagny K.M. (Eds.) Mast Cells: Methods and Protocols

New York: Humana Press, 2015. — 535 p. — (Methods in Molecular Biology 1220).The book expands upon the previous edition with current, detailed reviews that cover topics of interest to mast cell neophytes and cognoscenti alike. With new chapters on methods for the enumeration of tissue mast cells and isolation of mature mast cells and mast cell progenitors from mammalian tissues, Danio rerio (zebrafish) model in the study of mast cell development and function, the functions of mast cells in human health and disease and methods for the isolation, methods for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms of mast cell activation and their effector functions, assays for the detection and analysis of mast cell secretory and cell surface phenotype and, mast cell activation state, and experimental mouse models of disease that have been deemed useful for the assessment of mast cell functions in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune response in cancer, tissue fibrosis, auto-inflammation and allergic disease. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.