Toxoplasma gondii and mast cells.

Mast cells, discovered by Paul Burnet over one century ago, have been long recognized only as inductors of IgE-dependent allergic diseases (allergy of type I, Th2 lymphocytes dependent). However, numerous recent studies have indicated that they play an essential role in many other immunological and non-immunological processes. Infection with Toxoplasma gondii elicits the induction of a strong cell-mediated immunity characterized by a highly-polarized Th1 response, which can protect against allergy. Knowledge of the contribution of mast cells to Toxoplasma invasion is still limited, and the present article discusses aspects of the relationship between mast cells and T. gondii.