Mast cells are immune cells found throughout the body, including the gut, skin, nerves, lungs, and around the blood brain barrier. While they’re best known for allergies, mast cells do far more and growing research links mast cell disorders to autism. When mast cells are triggered, they release inflammatory chemicals like histamine, cytokines, and prostaglandins. They can also release inflammatory signals without histamine, triggered by stress, toxins, infections, or hormones. Mast cell disorder