What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)?
Mast cells are sentinels or “guards” able to sense a wide range of threats upon the body (such as infections or environmental toxins). When a mast cell senses a threat, it “activates,” producing and releasing chemical signals (“mediators”) appropriate for assisting the body in managing the threat. In mast cell activation diseases (such as mastocytosis and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)), mast cells activate in abnormal ways in response to threats and even activate when there is no threat at all. In such situations, when mast cell mediators are released inappropriately, the reactions by other cells and tissues to those mediators are hurtful, not helpful. Dr. Theoharis Theoharides (“Dr. Theo” or “The Mast Cell Master”), one of our speakers for Wellapalooza 2015 and a mast cell researcher, describes Mast Cell activation below:
“Mast cells are the “universal alarm cell” that starts the inflammatory cascade. They can be triggered by infection, allergens, environmental factors like pollution, or even emotional stress. Once that happens, mast cells set into motion a series of inflammatory reactions, including the activation of immune cells and the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a pro-inflammatory protein, or cytokine.
Not only are mast cells the source for most TNF-alpha in the body, it also is the only kind of cell that stores ready-made TNF-alpha that can be released in seconds.”
In some people, mast cells can become overly sensitive and reactive. Mast cells may be involved in food allergies, allergies to bug bites, celiac disease, Interstitial Cystitis (IC), and heritable connective tissue disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).
“Mast cell activation disease” is the general term for disease of inappropriate mast cell activation. “Mast cell activation syndrome” (MCAS) features inappropriate mast cell activation with little to no inappropriate mast cell proliferation while mastocytosis features both inappropriate mast cell activation and significant levels of inappropriate mast cell proliferation. There are two principal types of mastocytosis, cutaneous (limited to the skin) and systemic (spread throughout the body), and there are several subtypes of cutaneous and systemic mastocytosis. The most common type of cutaneous mastocytosis is urticaria pigmentosa. The most common type of systemic mastocytosis is indolent systemic mastocytosis.The terms “mast cell disease” and “mast cell disorder” are used interchangeably.
In those who have a connective tissue defect, that defect causes instability of the connective tissues. Some mutations cause more instability than others, such as with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (VEDS), or Marfan s. Only research will be able to help us understand the relationship between the mutation(s) associated with one component of our connective tissues to an otherwise normal and functioning component, and how epigenetic changes affects both.
Mast cell activation is linked to some cancers, cardiovascular diseases, connective tissue disorders, inflammation, including inflammation of the brain, allergy and asthma, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), various skin disease, and other auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Lupus. Mast cells are involved in some food allergies. Mast cells and inflammation of the brain are linked to depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions in some patients.
Mast cells can drive both allergic and inflammatory processes. They are a type of white blood cell and are part of our immune system found in our connective tissues.
Mast cell disease can drive auto-immune conditions and seasonal allergies. They may be a link between heritable connective tissue disorders, such as EDS, and autonomic dysfunction (dysautonomia), as well as various conditions that cause chronic pelvic pain in women.
There are both genetic and environmental components that contribute to conditions that fall under the mast cell activation diseases umbrella. In fall 2015, we learned about a recently identified type of hypermobility EDS that also features a kind of mast cell activation disorder and a type of dysautonomia. Maybe this new syndrome will be categorized as a mast cell activation disorder or open the door to a new set of conditions to be named.
Stress can be a trigger for mast cell activation. Stress also causes the biggest variance in the presentation of symptoms in almost all of the conditions mentioned above. Stress can be an insult to the body, such as trauma – both emotional and physical – lifestyle choices, and environmental factors that are both in our control and not in our control. Some examples of stress are serious illnesses, alcoholism, toxicity from heavy metals or chemicals, surgery, reaction to medications, anaphylaxis, abuse, and accidents.
To read a full listing of Dr. Afrin’s publications, please go to:
To read some of Dr. Theo’s research articles on mast cells and mast cell activation, go to www.mastcellmaster.com
Human mast cells with purple granules
To learn more, go to The Mastocytosis Society’s Mast cell activation disorders explained
A natural remedy for psoriasis (article quoted above)
***Content included in the copy has been validated and approved by Lawrence B. Afrin, M.D., author of ‘Never Bet Against Occam: Mast Cell Activation Disease and the Modern Epidemics of Chronic Illness and Medical Complexity (2016).’ All content is protected by copyright law and may not be reprinted or copied for use without permission of the original author.***