biostudies-literatureHerrera-Heredia SAMinistry of Science and Technology, TaiwanYen Tjing Ling Medical Foundation1000405https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9682282biostudies-literatureUnknown13Mast cells are innate immune cells strategically positioned around blood vessels near body surfaces. Their primary weapons are bioactive amines, mast cell-specific proteases, and cytokines stored in preformed granules. Mast cells granules constituents are packaged efficiently with the help of the highly negatively charged Heparan sulfate-derivative, Heparin. Heparin is one of the most widely used drugs to treat coagulation disorders, yet, it is not found in the circulation at a steady state, casting doubt that the prevention of blood clotting is its physiological function. Early studies using <i>Ndst2</i> ^-/- mice have shown that Heparin is essential for mast cells granules formation. However, these mice could still produce less sulfated Heparan sulfate that could potentially reFrontiers in immunologyHeparin is required for the formation of granules in connective tissue mast cells.PMC9682282106-2320-B-010- 026-MY3, 107-2320-B-010-016-MY3, 110-2320-B-A49A-521 –CI-107-6, CI-108-5, CI-111-6Herrera-Heredia SATsai YHRoers AKao CYHsu CLHsu HPYamaguchi YDzhagalov ILfalseHeparin is required for the formation of granules in connective tissue mast cells.Mast cells are innate immune cells strategically positioned around blood vessels near body surfaces. Their primary weapons are bioactive amines, mast cell-specific proteases, and cytokines stored in preformed granules. Mast cells granules constituents are packaged efficiently with the help of the highly negatively charged Heparan sulfate-derivative, Heparin. Heparin is one of the most widely used drugs to treat coagulation disorders, yet, it is not found in the circulation at a steady state, casting doubt that the prevention of blood clotting is its physiological function. Early studies using <i>Ndst2</i> ^-/- mice have shown that Heparin is essential for mast cells granules formation. However, these mice could still produce less sulfated Heparan sulfate that could potentially re2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-21T18:59:52.101Z2025-04-05T17:29:12.173ZS-EPMC96822823643911810.3389/fimmu.2022.1000405