The classic antigen-antibody reaction is similar to a key (the antigen) fitting into a lock (the antibody), in order to trigger (unlock) subsequent immune system responses. Unlike that event, however, the mast cells that cause the problems with MC do not even require the presence of antibodies in order to trigger a degranulation event that dumps histamines and other inflammatory mediators. In fact, the problem in most cases of mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) is that the mast cells tend to degranulate for no good reason. Antibodies, and antibody-based bonding have nothing to do with the process.Monique wrote:Yet, those same foods are high in histamine...I am puzzled.
IOW, inflammation due to MCAD is typically caused by the inappropriate release of histamines and other inflammatory mediators (in the absence of antibodies). That implies that since excess histamine is already a problem, foods that are high in histamines will contribute to the problem, and so will foods that tend to cause mast cell degranulation.
The net result is that MCAD is another (separate and distinct) mechanism by which certain foods can trigger a reaction — a reaction that would not happen to someone who does not have MCAD (unless they happen to produce antibodies to those particular foods). It's kind of confusing, but do you see what I'm saying, or am I doing a poor job of explaining it?
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