Mast cells can enhance resistance to snake and honeybee venoms

Abstract

Snake or honeybee envenomation can cause substantial morbidity and mortality, and it has been proposed that the activation of mast cells by snake or insect venoms can contribute to these effects. We show, in contrast, that mast cells can significantly reduce snake-venom - induced pathology in mice, at least in part by releasing carboxypeptidase A and possibly other proteases, which can degrade venom components. Mast cells also significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality induced by honeybee venom. These findings identify a new biological function for mast cells in enhancing resistance to the morbidity and mortality induced by animal venoms.

Published in

Science
2006, volume: 313, number: 5786, pages: 526-530
Publisher: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE

SLU Authors

• Pejler, Gunnar

  • Department of Molecular Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Åbrink, Magnus

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Veterinary Science
Animal and Dairy Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1128877

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/10689