Mast cells remind me of the world’s best photo-bombers, showing in so many basic functions of our immune system and in so many disease processes. Every time I turn around to read some science news, it seems mast cells have found their way into the picture again. In this article headline, mast cells, a part of the immune system, have earned a role supporting, if not starring in, the development of Inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, on top of their clear leading role in many food allergies.
From the early days of mast cell research, everyone recognized how they played a role in IgE-dependent allergic disorders. The pathology of asthma and anaphylaxis are clearly driven by histamine release from mast cells and some other cells associated with the immune system. Their connection to GI issues was less appreciated as genetic studies have not linked them together, and the early cell stains for mast cells may have missed the distinction between mast cells before and after dumping their histamines, with ‘before’ being important there.
Over time, with different cell stains and through different study designs, the role of mast cells has become more obvious; it’s like we’re just now noticing a photo bomber that was there all along. Further research shows that they play a role in inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, as well as irritable bowel syndrome, and that they affect the permeability of gut mucosa in other GI disease states. This recognition opens up a number of potential avenues for treating these conditions.
The clear contribution of these immune cells and their released chemicals, like histamine (though not only histamine and likely with more undiscovered), to symptoms we experience is just the start, given their interaction with our gut microbiome. As we learn more and more about how balances or imbalances (dysbiosis) of the bacteria in our GI tract influence our health, we have realized that many of these influences act through their interactions with mast cells. As a result, these researchers are even considering the possibility of using probiotics to treat IBD or IBS.
As we care in our clinic for many with IBD, IBS, leaky gut, food allergies, and assorted GI conditions with or without a formal label, understanding the interplay between mast cells and our gut bacteria will allow us to restore healthier, more abundant lives by going beyond just throwing medications at the conditions. Indeed, I will likely be giving this focus article more attention in future blog posts. If you want to know more, leave a comment or question in our social media posts.
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Original Article:
Molfetta, R., Carnevale, A., Marangio, C., Putro, E., & Paolini, R. (2025). Beyond the “Master” Role in Allergy: Insights into Intestinal Mast Cell Plasticity and Gastrointestinal Diseases. Biomedicines, 13(2), 320. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13020320
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
Dr. Eric Potter graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and then went on to specialize in internal medicine (adult) and pediatric care, spending significant time and effort in growing his medical understanding while caring for patients from all walks of life.
