The interplay between probiotics and mast cells in gut inflammation: a mini-review

Mast cells (MCs) are myeloid-derived immune cells that differentiate in peripheral tissues, where they are strategically located near epithelial surfaces. In the gastrointestinal tract, MCs regulate immune response through the release of mediators such as histamine, cytokines, and proteases; however, their excessive activation promotes inflammation, increases intestinal permeability, and contributes to disorders such as food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic intestinal inflammation. Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts and play a key role in gut immune regulation by modulating the microbiota, reinforcing epithelial barrier integrity, and promoting anti-inflammatory responses. Although MCs and probiotics have been extensively studied independently, their functional interplay in gut health and disease remains poorly defined. Here, we propose that probiotic-mast cell interactions represent an underexplored immunoregulatory axis in intestinal homeostasis. This mini-review synthesizes current evidence on the crosstalk between probiotics and MCs, highlighting the limited mechanistic understanding of these interactions and its potential therapeutic implications.