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Review article - Peer-reviewed, 2009

Novel insights into the biological function of mast cell carboxypeptidase A

Pejler, Gunnar; Knight, Stefan D.; Henningsson, Frida; Wernersson, Sara

Abstract

When mast cells are activated they can respond by releasing their secretory granule compounds, including mast cell-specific proteases of chymase, tryptase and carboxypeptidase A (MC-CPA) type. MC-CPA is a dominant protein component of the mast cell granule and the MC-CPAgene is extremely highly expressed. Despite this, relatively little has been known of its biological function. However, the recent generation of mouse strains lacking MC-CPA has opened up new possibilities for investigations related to this protease. This recent development has revealed a role for MC-CPA in regulating innate immunity responses, including the degradation of harmful substances such as the vasoconstrictive factor endothelin 1 and snake venom toxins. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of MC-CPA.

Published in

Trends in Immunology
2009, volume: 30, number: 8, pages: 401-408

Authors' information

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry (AFB)
Knight, Stefan David
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology
Henningsson, Frida
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry (AFB)

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2009.04.008

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/27732