Role of skin dendritic and mast cells communications in triggering immune reactions

Skin represents a natural barrier and a site of contact with antigens. Skin demonstrates higher intensity of immune reactions compared to other organs, which implies the additional cell interactions. Dendritic cells are traditionally considered as the main antigen­presenting cells of the skin, however, in recent years, some data on the ability of another population, mast cells, to perform antigen­presenting functions have appeared. The review presents novel data on the interaction of skin dendritic and mast cells, including formation of immune synapses, exchange of surface molecules, and transfer of secretory material. The authors have developed and presented a new concept for the initiation and modulation of immune responses provided by the functional dendritic cell–mast cell complex. Keywords: dendritic cells, mast cells, skin, immunological synapse, degranulatory synapse, immune response