TY - JOUR
T1 - A Survey of Methodologies for Assessing Mast Cell Density and Activation in Patients with Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders
AU - Friesen, Hunter
AU - Singh, Meenal
AU - Singh, Vivekanand
AU - Schurman, Jennifer V.
AU - Friesen, Craig A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors.
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - The aim was to assess methods utilized in assessing mast cell involvement in functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs), specifically to describe variability in methods utilized to assess both mast cell density and activation and determine if a consensus exists. After a literature search identified 70 manuscripts assessing mast cell density, data were extracted including FAPD diagnosis, site of biopsy, selection of microscopic fields analyzed, selection of mucosal region analyzed, method of mast cell identification, method to assess mast cell density, and if performed, method to assess mast cell activation. There appears to be some consensus favoring inmmunohistochemical stains over histochemical stains for identifying mast cells. Otherwise, considerable variability exists in methodology for assessing mast cell density and activation. Regardless of method, approximately 80% of studies found increased mast cell density and/or activation in comparison to controls with no method being superior. A wide variety of methods have been employed to assess mast cell density and activation with no well-established consensus and inadequate data to recommend specific approaches. The current methodology providing physiologic information needs to be translated to a standard methodology providing clinical information with the development of criteria establishing abnormal density and/or activation, and more importantly, predicting treatment response.
AB - The aim was to assess methods utilized in assessing mast cell involvement in functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs), specifically to describe variability in methods utilized to assess both mast cell density and activation and determine if a consensus exists. After a literature search identified 70 manuscripts assessing mast cell density, data were extracted including FAPD diagnosis, site of biopsy, selection of microscopic fields analyzed, selection of mucosal region analyzed, method of mast cell identification, method to assess mast cell density, and if performed, method to assess mast cell activation. There appears to be some consensus favoring inmmunohistochemical stains over histochemical stains for identifying mast cells. Otherwise, considerable variability exists in methodology for assessing mast cell density and activation. Regardless of method, approximately 80% of studies found increased mast cell density and/or activation in comparison to controls with no method being superior. A wide variety of methods have been employed to assess mast cell density and activation with no well-established consensus and inadequate data to recommend specific approaches. The current methodology providing physiologic information needs to be translated to a standard methodology providing clinical information with the development of criteria establishing abnormal density and/or activation, and more importantly, predicting treatment response.
KW - functional dyspepsia
KW - irritable bowel syndrome
KW - mast cells
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U2 - 10.3390/gidisord3040016
DO - 10.3390/gidisord3040016
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85142836396
SN - 2624-5647
VL - 3
SP - 142
EP - 155
JO - Gastrointestinal Disorders
JF - Gastrointestinal Disorders
IS - 4
ER -