The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jul 2004
Activation of mast cells by double-stranded RNA: evidence for activation through Toll-like receptor 3.
Although mast cells (MCs) have been clearly implicated in innate immune responses involving bacteria, their ability to respond to viral infection is less clear. ⋯ Murine and human MCs produce type I IFNs after exposure to double-stranded RNA and/or virus, the former via specific interactions with TLR-3. These data suggest that MCs contribute to innate immune responses to viral infection via the production of type I IFNs.