Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Isolation of Peritoneum-derived Mast Cells and Their Functional Characterization with Ca2+-imaging and Degranulation Assays
Published on: July 4, 2018
Update on Mast Cell Proteases as Drug Targets
1University of California at San Francisco.
Abstract:
Mast cell granules are packed with proteases, which are released with other mediators by degranulating stimuli. Several of these proteases are targets of potentially therapeutic inhibitors based on hypothesized contributions to diseases, notably asthma and ulcerative colitis for β-tryptases, heart and kidney scarring for chymases, and airway infection for dipeptidyl peptidase-I. Small-molecule and antibody-based β-tryptase inhibitors showing preclinical promise were tested in early-phase human trials with some evidence of benefit. Chymase inhibitors were given safely in Phase II trials without demonstrating benefits, whereas dipeptidyl peptidase-I inhibitor improved bronchiectasis, in effects likely related to inactivation of the enzyme in neutrophils.
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