Abstract

It is now well established that mast cells (MCs) play a crucial role in asthma. This is supported by multiple lines of evidence, including both clinical studies and studies on MC-deficient mice. However, there is still only limited knowledge of the exact effector mechanism(s) by which MCs influence asthma pathology. MCs contain large amounts of secretory granules, which are filled with a variety of bioactive compounds including histamine, cytokines, lysosomal hydrolases, serglycin proteoglycans and a number of MC-restricted proteases. When MCs are activated, e.g. in response to IgE receptor cross -linking, the contents of their granules are released to the exterior and can cause a massive inflammatory reaction. The MC-restricted proteases include tryptases, chymases and carboxypeptidase A3, and these are expressed and stored at remarkably high levels. There is now emerging evidence supporting a prominent role of these enzymes in the pathology of asthma. Interestingly, however, the role of the MC-restricted proteases is multifaceted, encompassing both protective and detrimental activities. Here, the current knowledge of how the MC-restricted proteases impact on asthma is reviewed.

Published in

European Respiratory Journal
2019, Volume: 54, number: 4, article number: 1900685
Publisher: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD

SLU Authors

• Pejler, Gunnar

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Uppsala University

UKÄ Subject classification

Respiratory Medicine and Allergy


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00685-2019

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112402