Contemporary Updates on the Role of Mast Cells in Oral Lesions: A Review

Mast cell (MCs) is considered the immune cell of myeloid lineage and make a crucial role in the inflammatory process in several types of oral diseases. This mast cell contains 50–200 large granules which are inflammatory mediators, including rich in histamine and heparin. It is mainly found in the connective tissues of the oral mucosa like nerves, blood vessels, and subepithelial areas of the human body. These cells have a key role in the maintenance of many physiologic functions of the body and thus their number was altered in various pathophysiologic diseases of the oral cavity such as benign and malignant tumors, reactive lesions, autoimmune diseases, odontogenic cyst, tumors, etc. The present paper is focused on the current concept and updates on the role and function of mast cells in physiologic and pathologic conditions of the oral cavity.