Fig. 7
From: Single-cell analysis unveils activation of mast cells in colorectal cancer microenvironment
Diagram of MC Activation in CRC.
a. Compared to normal tissue, the overall density of MCs decreases in CRC, but the phenotype of MCs changes from resting MCs with high CMA1 expression to activated MCs with high expression of TPSAB1, CPA3, and KIT. b. KITLG (SCF) expressed by fibroblasts and endothelial cells in the stromal region increases in the TME, which may promote MC activation through the KITLG-KIT axis and thereby suppress tumor progression