Figure legends
Figure 1. In vitro growth and maturation of mast cells over a 70 days period. CD34-positive peripheral blood cells from healthy volunteers (n= 13) or individuals with indolent systemic mastocytosis (n=14) were cultured under conditions that promote mast cell development. Mean ± SEM.
Figure 2. Release of histamine and PGD2 from activatedin vitro developed mast cells. Mast cells were treated for 30 minutes with calcium ionophore A23187, morphine, anti-IgE or mannitol and the release of histamine (A) and PGD2 (B) was measured in the cell free supernatant. Healthy volunteers (open boxes) (n=6-10) and systemic mastocytosis (filled boxes) (n=7-13). Results are shown as box and whiskers; the box extends from the 25th to 75th percentiles and the whiskers min to max. * p<0.05