Mast Cell Disorders Forum

Mast Cell Disorders Forum
http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl General Mast Cell Disorders Discussion >> General Mast Cell Disorder Discussion >> Degranulation releases mediators vs. Cytokines are Elaborated?? http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1424572649 Message started by Futurehope on 02/21/15 at 14:37:29

Title: Degranulation releases mediators vs. Cytokines are Elaborated??
Post by Futurehope on 02/21/15 at 14:37:29

Is anyone able to clarify the difference between saying a mast cell degranulates and releases mediators, vs. a mast cell elaborating a cytokine? I think I read that a mast cell can "elaborate a cytokine", but does not necessarily degranulate....as if the two are different functions?

Cytokines are proteins, I believe. An example is interleukin-13, or IL-13. I was checked for a specific set of cytokines in my blood, and I am trying to figure out what it means when a mast cell "elaborates a cytokine"?

Does anyone understand the medical term "elaborate"? Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: Degranulation releases mediators vs. Cytokines are Elaborated??
Post by Futurehope on 02/22/15 at 00:43:03

Never mind, everyone. The medical dictionary definition of elaboration is:

" the process of producing complex substances out of simpler materials"

So, I guess in addition to releasing granules such as heparin, and histamine, etc., the mast cells are able to produce complex substances from simpler materials. One substance the mast cells can "elaborate" are called interleukins. The cells are amazing! Except when they misbehave, then we get problems.