Systemic mastocytosis is a rare
autoimmune disorder which affects the whole body. It is caused by the invasion of a type of
immune system cell (the
mast cell) into tissues which it normally shouldn't go; this would produce
autoimmune problems and symptoms such as
inflammation. Mast cells, which are normally found in
connective tissues, produce
histamine.
From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.