A 24-year-old man presents to the primary care clinic for follow-up of his asthma. He has had asthma since he was 8 years old and requires daily treatment for his symptoms. He often has nighttime awakenings with coughing spells. On physical exam, diffuse wheezing is heard bilaterally. He is willing to try anything to improve his symptoms. The physician decides to add cromolyn to his regimen. What is the mechanism of action of cromolyn?
(A) Blocks leukotriene receptors
(B) Inhibits endothelin-1 receptors
(C) Mast cell stabilizer
(D) Muscarinic antagonist
(E) Phosphodiesterase inhibitor