Cell that Triggers Symptoms in Allergy Attacks Can Also Limit Damage, Stanford University School of Medicine Researchers Find

STANFORD, Calif. — A blood cell known as a troublemaker for triggering the itch and inflammation in allergy attacks, the mast cell, can also calm down the flare-ups, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine have found.The findings, published Sept. 2 in the online version of Nature Immunology, reveal that, in mice, mast cells help decrease skin damage over time from sun exposure or from poison oak.