Degranulated mast cells in the adventitia of ruptured plaques may contribute to the onset of myocardial infarction through histamine-induced coronary spasm.
In infarct-related coronary arteries, the number of degranulated mast cells in the adventitia backing ruptured plaques is increased. Histamine released from the degranulated mast cells may reach the media, where it may locally provoke coronary spasm and thus contribute to the onset of MI.
Laine et al. (Tue,) studied this question.