Table 4.

New approaches for analyzing MC production of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors.

Constitutive or inducible genetic ablation or reduction, in all MCs or in particular subpopulations of MCs, of individual or multiple cytokines, chemokines, or growth factors (or of receptors for such products, or of other MC products, such as proteases, which may regulate levels and activity of cytokines, chemokines, or growth factors) 42, 159, 165, 384. Real time simultaneous imaging of MC activation and gene expression in normal or diseased tissues in vivo 165. Single cell analysis of MC mRNA, products, and metabolites (either ex vivo or in situ). Advances in approaches to generate and analyze mice of diverse genetic backgrounds, which can be used to assess the extent to which genetic background can influence the importance of MC production of particular products in specific settings 385–387. Advances in the ability to use more definitive experimental approaches to analyze the effects of microbiomes and their metabolites, as well as exposure to UV light, environmental toxins and other environmental factors, on the capacity of MCs to produce, regulate or respond to cytokines, chemokines and growth factors.