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Article: Mast cells fight bacteria
- Article from:
- Dermatology Times
- Article date:
- November 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Advanstar Communications, Inc. Nov 2007. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Infection defense found in mice
Los Angeles - New animal research appears to show that mast cells in the skin may provide a defense against bacterial infection. Anna Di Nardo, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues presented their poster information and abstract here at a recent meeting of the Society of Investigative Dermatology.
Dr. Di Nardo, assistant professor in the department of medicine-dermatology at the University of California, San Diego, says the findings are encouraging, although the mast cell defense activity was mediated by expression of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides.
"Mast cell activity is after barrier penetration," she tells Dermatology Times.
"We are now focusing on the role ...