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PubMed1997

Tryptase inhibitors: a novel class of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Tryptase, a serine protease released from mast cell secretory granules, is found at elevated levels in pathophysiologic conditions associated with allergic inflammation. The in vitro and in vivo biological activities of tryptase strongly suggest that tryptase influences lung function, inflammation, matrix degradation, and tissue remodelling. The pathophysiologic role for tryptase in diseases of airway inflammation such as asthma has been confirmed from studies using the selective tryptase inhibitor APC 366 in the allergic sheep model. APC 366 inhibited the allergen-induced early and late airway responses, blocked postchallenge airway hyperresponsiveness, and reduced airway inflammation. A pilot clinical trial with mild to moderate asthmatics also showed that APC 366 protected against allergen-induced early and late responses and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness. Current data provide compelling evidence that tryptase plays a fundamental role in allergic inflammation, and selective tryptase inhibitors may represent a novel class of anti-inflammatory therapeutics for treating asthma and other mast cell-mediated diseases.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum tryptase in allergic rhinitis: effect of cetirizine treatment.

Activated mast cells release a large range of potent mediators of allergic inflammation, including proteases. The tryptase serum levels were evaluated in 13 subjects suffering from allergic perennial rhinitis. Moreover the effects of cetirizine treatment on serum tryptase were studied using the UniCap™ tryptase fluoroenzymeimmunoassay. In allergic patients the serum tryptase values (M±SD: 6.1 ± 2.4 μg/L) were significantly (p < 0.02) higher than the values detected in controls (3.0 ± 1.2 μg/L). In allergic rhinitis, after antihistamine treatment, tryptase values (4.4 ± 1.8 μg/L) decreased significantly (p < 0.001). After two weeks from the cetirizine stop, the tryptase levels increased again (5.5 ± 2.6 μg/l). The results demonstrate that mast cells are constantly activated in perennial allergic rhinitis. The antihistamine treatment is effective in reducing the tryptase release from mast cells, but the mechanism of action of cetirizine is still to understand.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1988

Activation of latent rheumatoid synovial collagenase by human mast cell tryptase.

The functional role of mast cells in rheumatoid synovium was investigated by assessing the ability of mast cell tryptase to activate latent collagenase derived from rheumatoid synoviocytes. Tryptase, a mast cell neutral protease, was demonstrated in situ to reside in rheumatoid synovial mast cells, by an immunoperoxidase technique using a mouse mAb against tryptase, and in vitro to be released by dispersed synovial mast cells after both immunologic and nonimmunologic challenge. Each rheumatoid synovial mast cell contains an average of 6.2 pg of immunoreactive tryptase and the percent release values of this protease correlated with those of histamine (r = 0.58, p less than 0.01). The ability of purified tryptase to promote collagenolysis was demonstrated in a dose-dependent fashion using latent collagenase derived from rheumatoid synovium, synovial fluid, IL-1-stimulated cultured synoviocytes, and partially purified latent collagenase derived from conditioned media, with between 10 and 92% of the collagen substrate degraded. [3H] Collagen, treated with tryptase-activated latent collagenase, was subjected to electrophoresis on SDS polyacrylamide gels and autoradiography showed the collagen degradation pattern (A, B) characteristically produced by collagenase. Mast cell lysates also activated synovial latent collagenase yielding 24% digestion of collagen substrate. This activator in mast cell lysates could be inhibited by diisopropylflurophosphate or by immunoadsorption of tryptase. Thus, mast cells may activate metalloproteinases and play a role in the catabolism of collagen that occurs in rheumatoid synovium.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed1988

Release of histamine and tryptase in vivo after prolonged cutaneous challenge with allergen in humans.

The patterns of in vivo release of histamine and tryptase were determined during prolonged Ag incubation in atopic individuals, using skin chambers placed over denuded skin blister sites. However, the patterns of histamine and tryptase release over a period of up to 9 h of Ag exposure were different. Whereas rates of release of both histamine and tryptase peaked within 1 h in an Ag dose-response fashion, that of tryptase decreased progressively thereafter and was not different from buffer challenge sites from the 5th to 9th h at all concentrations of Ag tested. The rate of histamine release reached a plateau after 2 h and remained at a constant low level throughout the 3rd to 9th h of Ag incubation. Rechallenge of the sites continuously exposed to Ag with a different second Ag at the 6th h resulted in a second peak of release of both histamine and tryptase. This persistence of in vivo histamine but not tryptase release during the later time points of the cutaneous allergic response differs from what has been demonstrated in vitro with dispersed mast cells. Whether this reflects basophil participation at these time points or an as yet undetermined mechanism for release of histamine but not tryptase by mast cells is not known. These novel patterns of mediator release after prolonged Ag exposure in vivo may have clinical relevance to allergic diseases during which atopic subjects are exposed to Ag over several hours to days.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Inactivation of human high molecular weight kininogen by human mast cell tryptase.

Tryptase, the major neutral protease of human pulmonary mast cell secretory granules, rapidly inactivates human high m.w. kininogen (HMWK) in vitro. HMWK (5600 nM) lost 50% of its capacity to release kinin in response to kallikrein after a 5-min incubation with tryptase (31 nM), even though kinin activity was neither generated nor, when bradykinin was incubated with tryptase, destroyed by tryptase. The procoagulant activity of HMWK (51 nM) and the purified procoagulant chain (40 nM) that is derived from HMWK were each 72% inactivated after 7 min of incubation with tryptase (0.04 nM and 0.02 nM, respectively). Human urinary and pancreatic kallikrein did not inactivate this procoagulant activity under conditions in which kinin generation occurs. Complete cleavage of native single-chain HMWK by tryptase occurred in less than 10 min as analyzed by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide slab gels. The major products formed during the initial 2 min were proteins of 100,000 and 95,000 apparent m.w., and by 10 to 30 min were fragments of 74,000 and 67,000 apparent m.w. Reduction of these cleavage products yielded two major fragments of 67,000 and 66,000 apparent m.w. that were both present by 0.17 min. The presence of lower m.w. products, thought to be primarily from the carboxy-terminal procoagulant region of HMWK, were also detected with and without reduction. The capacity of tryptase to inactivate HMWK is consistent with the ability of other mast cell-derived mediators, such as heparin proteoglycan and prostaglandin D2, to suppress blood coagulation and thrombosis, and may play an important role in the biology of mast cell-dependent events in vivo.

Blood Coagulation↗

PubMed2000

Reversible expression of tryptases in continuous L138.8A mast cells.

It has been established that mast cells can alter their expression of granule chymases and tryptases in vivo. In vitro, a reversible cytokine regulation has so far only been demonstrated for chymases. We now show a reversible and cytokine-regulated expression of the tryptases MMCP-6 and MMCP-7 and of the chymases MMCP-1, MMCP-2 and MMCP-4 in the continuous murine mast cell line L138.8A. The L138.8A mast cells lacked expression of mRNA for mast cell-specific proteases when cultured in IL-3, and only 49% and 41% of the cells were c-kit+ and FcepsilonRI+, respectively, by flow cytometry. Kit-ligand/stem cell factor induced synthesis of the chymase MMCP-4 and the tryptases MMCP-6 and MMCP-7 and increased the fraction of c-kit+ and FcepsilonRI+ L138.8A cells to >70%. Kit-ligand-induced tryptase expression was suppressed in the presence of IL-3 or IL-9, and reversed after withdrawal of kit-ligand. IL-9 or IL-3/IL-10 promoted the formation of Alcian blue+ granules and increased the fraction of c-kit+ and FcepsilonRI+ L138.8A cells to >90%. IL-9 further induced the expression of the chymases MMCP-1, MMCP-2 and MMCP-4. Thus, the immature mast cell line L138.8A has the capacity to modulate both tryptase and chymase expression and represents the first model system to analyze the molecular regulation of tryptase expression in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Histone-tryptase interaction: H2A N-terminal tail removal and inhibitory activity.

The involvement of tryptase, the trypsin-like serine proteinase of mast cell granules, in many (patho)physiological conditions is now recognized. In vitro this enzyme is known to act as a potent growth factor for fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Moreover, a role in inflammatory diseases and in dermatological disorders characterized by increased cell turnover has been suggested for this protease. In an attempt to understand the molecular basis of tryptase activity, we have investigated the interaction in vitro between bovine tryptase and histones. Here we show that tryptase cleaves histone H2A at a specific site (Arg20-Ala21), resulting in the removal of the N-terminal flexible fragment of the molecule. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the H2A major fragment (H2A*, 109 residues) generated by hydrolysis and lacking the N-terminal domain, is a noncompetitive, reversible and highly specific inhibitor (Ki = 29 nM) of tryptase enzymatic activity. H2A* is able to inhibit the hydrolysis of a small substrate as well as the cleavage of fibronectin, a high-molecular-weight substrate of tryptase.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Influence of Helicobacter pylori on tryptase and cathepsin D in peptic ulcer.

We here ascertain whether tryptase (a serine endoprotease released by mast cells) and cathepsin D (CD, a lysosomal hydrolase that seems able to derange the extracellular matrix) play a part in peptic ulcer disease and whether they are linked to Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. We studied 13 controls, 25 patients with gastric ulcer, 47 with duodenal ulcer, and 11 with duodenitis. Tryptase and CD were measured in mucosal biopsies (body and antrum of the stomach and duodenum) using IRMA methods. Hp infection was histologically evaluated (Giemsa). Tryptase and CD levels were higher (25%) in patients with active peptic ulcer, whether gastric or duodenal. In Hp-positive patients the CD mucosal content was higher while tryptase mucosal levels were lower than in Hp-negative patients. Tryptase was correlated with gastrin content. CD seems to be mainly related to the phlogistic reaction of the mucosa to Hp infection; tryptase may reflect an indirect link between Hp infection, gastrin release, and the function of mast cells.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

In situ detection of the mast cell proteases chymase and tryptase in human lung tissue using light and electron microscopy.

Scroll-rich, "mucosal" mast cells are the predominant human lung mast cell type. It has been proposed that these mast cells store tryptase but are mostly chymase deficient. We present a detailed immunolocalisation study of chymase and tryptase in lung specimens of eight patients. Using monoclonal antibody B7 in a conventional tissue processing method for light microscopy, chymase-positive mast cells were much fewer than tryptase-positive ones. However, they approached the number of tryptase-positive cells when optimised processing was used. Two different monoclonal antibodies, B7 and CC1, were used to visualise chymase in purified lung mast cells of two patients using ultrastructural immunogold labelling. Immunoabsorption controls demonstrated a reactivity of B7 with both tryptase and chymase, but indicated specificity of CC1 for chymase. On the ultrastructural level, all of more than 1,400 lung mast cells evaluated labelled for chymase. Reactivity was seen in cytoplasmic granules, cytoplasm and vesicles, but not elsewhere. Tryptase labelling using monoclonal antibody G3 was also present in all mast cells detected, and was retained in altered granules (=activated mast cells), where B7 labelling was sparse. The average labelling density was approximately sixfold higher than for chymase. In summary, chymase may be more abundant in human lung mast cells than hitherto thought.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Mast cell tryptase levels in normal canine tissues.

Levels of canine tryptase from various tissues were quantified using a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The assay utilises an affinity-purified rabbit anti-tryptase antibody in the solid phase and alkaline-phosphatase conjugated tryptase together with unlabelled tryptase in the fluid phase. The assay will rapidly quantify 40-5000 ng ml-1 of tryptase in tissue extracts. Tissues from the skin, gut, liver and lung were studied, of which canine gut appeared to contain the highest levels of tryptase per milligram wet weight, which may suggest an important role for this enzyme at this site. This assay may prove valuable in assessing the role of mast cells in various disease states in the dog.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Identification of a subgroup of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored tryptases.

The tryptase locus on mouse chromosome 17A3.3 contains 13 genes that encode enzymatically active serine proteases with different tissue expression profiles and substrate specificities. Mouse mast cell protease (mMCP) 6, mMCP-7, mMCP-11/protease serine member S (Prss) 34, tryptase 6/Prss33, tryptase epsilon/Prss22, implantation serine protease (Isp) 1/Prss28, and Isp-2 are constitutively exocytosed enzymes. We now demonstrate that tryptase 5/Prss32, pancreasin/Prss27, and testis serine protease-1 are inserted into plasma membranes via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors analogous to Prss21, and that these serine proteases can be released from the cell's surface by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. These data suggest that the C-terminal residues play key roles in determining where tryptases compartmentalize in cells. GPI-anchored proteins are targeted to lipid rafts. Thus, our identification of a number of GPI-anchored tryptases whose genes reside at mouse chromosome 17A3.3 also implicates important biological functions for this new family of serine proteases on the surfaces of cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Inhibition of human beta-tryptase by Bowman-Birk inhibitor derived peptides: creation of a new tri-functional inhibitor.

Bowman-Birk inhibitor proteins (BBIs), which are potent inhibitors of chymotrypsin-like proteases, do not inhibit human beta-tryptase despite this protein having a chymotrypsin-like fold. We have reported previously that, in contrast, BBI-derived peptides (whose sequences incorporate the solvent exposed reactive site loop motif) are able to inhibit human beta-tryptase. This is due to their small size, which allows them to access the restricted active site(s) of tryptase, which has an unusual tetrameric arrangement with four active sites flanking a central pore. In this paper, we have examined the possibility of creating additional interactions within this pore by adding extensions to the BBI-peptide motif. We have taken the core disulfide-bridged sequence SCTKSIPPQCY and examined a series of extensions, at both the C- and N-termini, that bear a second positively charged Lys residue at their end. The aim was to construct inhibitors that could make additional interactions in tryptase by spanning the gap between adjacent active sites in the enzyme, producing a double-headed inhibitor; a positively charged group was used as the dominant specificity of this enzyme is for a positively charged P1 residue. Both N- and C-terminal extensions are found to produce inhibitors of much increased potency, with a strong dependence of potency on chain length. Moreover, it was found that the C- and N-terminal extensions were able to synergise, with their combination on the same peptide producing an even better inhibitor with a potency 10(4)-fold greater than the original sequence. We suggest that the C- and N-terminal extensions are picking up interactions with separate additional sites on the tryptase, making the doubly extended BBI peptide a tri-functional tryptase inhibitor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Serum tryptase levels in sudden infant death syndrome in forensic autopsy cases.

An elevated serum tryptase concentration is considered to be a specific marker for systemic mast-cell activation, a central feature of anaphylaxis, which has been observed in some cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, it is still unclear whether anaphylaxis is involved in the etiology for SIDS. In the present study, we measured serum tryptase levels in 21 infants with SIDS, and 14 control infants from forensic autopsy cases by Uni-CAP TRYPTASE Fluoroenzyme immunoassay system, which detects both alpha- and beta-tryptase. The assay did not show any significant elevation of tryptase levels in the SIDS group compared with controls. Additionally, increased concentrations of tryptase were not observed in any SIDS case. Our results indicated that anaphylaxis does not seem to be involved in the etiology of SIDS.

Autopsy↗

PubMed2001

Selective inhibition of human mast cell tryptase by gabexate mesylate, an antiproteinase drug.

Gabexate mesylate is a non-antigenic synthetic inhibitor of trypsin-like serine proteinases that is therapeutically used in the treatment of pancreatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation and as a regional anticoagulant for hemodialysis. Considering the structural similarity between gabexate mesylate and arginine-based inhibitors of trypsin-like serine proteinases, the effect of gabexate mesylate on human and bovine mast cell tryptase action was investigated. Values of the inhibition constant (K(i)) for gabexate mesylate binding to human and bovine tryptase were 3.4 x 10(-9) M and 1.8 x 10(-7) M (at pH 7.4 and 37.0 degrees ), respectively. Furthermore, gabexate mesylate inhibited the fibrinogenolytic activity of human tryptase. On the basis of the available x-ray crystal structure of human tryptase, the possible binding mode of gabexate mesylate to human and bovine tryptase was analyzed. Human tryptase inhibition by gabexate mesylate may account for the reported prevention of inflammation, erosion, and ulceration of skin and mucosae.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Inhibition of tryptase TL2 from human T4+ lymphocytes and inhibition of HIV-1 replication in H9 cells by recombinant aprotinin and bikunin homologues.

The serine esterase TL2 from human T4+ lymphocytes is a binding component to HIV-1 glycoprotein gp120 and seems to play a role in the HIV-1 infection mechanism. Recombinant variants of the Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor aprotinin were investigated for their ability to inhibit tryptase TL2 and the binding of gp120 to this enzyme. Furthermore, the viral replication of HIV-1 was investigated H9 cell cultures under the influence of recombinant aprotinin and bikunin variants. In contrast to native aprotinin, the recombinant variant [Arg15, Phe17, Glu52] aprotinin with a reactive-site sequence homologous to the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 showed a specific inhibition of tryptase TL2 (> 80%). However, the [Leu15, Phe17, Glu52] aprotinin variant with hydrophobic subsites was the most potent inhibitor of the binding of gp120 to tryptase TL2 (68%). Our results show that the enzyme activity of purified tryptase TL2 is inhibited not only by variants with basic amino acids, but also those with hydrophobic residues in the reactive-site region. Therefore, tryptase TL2 is not a typical trypsin-like or chymotrypsin-like protease. Investigations on inhibition of HIV-1 replication in H9 cell cultures showed that tryptase TL2 is involved in the mechanism of virus internalization into human lymphocytes. The [Leu15, Phe17, Glu52] aprotinin showed a significant retardation of syncytium formation over a period of 5 days in a 1 micro M concentration. Similar investigations were performed with recombinant variants of bikunin, the light chain of human inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor. Only the single-headed variant [Arg94] delta 2 bikunin inhibited slightly the syncytium formation over a period of 2 days in a 2.2 micro M concentration. Wild-type bikunin and all full-length variants showed no effect, possibly due to steric hindrance by the second domain of the double-headed inhibitor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Structural examination of tryptase- and chymase-positive mast cells in livers, containing metastases from gastrointestinal cancers.

Human mast cells are categorized into mast cells positive only for tryptase (MC(T)) and mast cells positive for both tryptase and chymase (MC(TC)). The structural appearance of tryptase-, and chymase-positive mast cells in metastatic liver disease and the variations in MC(T) and MC(TC) numbers in accordance with the origin of the primary tumors have been described in the present study. Liver mast cells are analyzed immunocytochemically using tryptase and chymase and by quantitative morphometry in 30 patients with colorectal (n = 15), gastric (n = 8), and pancreatic (n = 7) cancers and in 5 control livers. The numbers of MC(T) and MC(TC) are increased in the extratumoral liver tissue (mainly portal tracts) as compared to controls. The numbers of MC(T) and MC(TC) in and around metastases with moderate or high grade of differentiation are statistically significantly higher, as compared to those with low grades of differentiation. The numbers of MC(TC) are greater than that of MC(T) in the extratumoral liver tissue and in metastases themselves. Ultrastructurally, mast cells immunostained with tryptase and chymase have three types of granules: electron dense granules with darkly precipitated reaction product, electron lucent granules without reaction product and electron lucent granules with sparse reaction product (altered granules). Both types of mast cells have small and large in size granules, resembling the MC(TC) phenotype described earlier. Tryptase-positive mast cells have granules with discrete scrolls and particulate and beaded pattern. Chymase-positive mast cells have granules with finely granular or particulate material. Substance P (SP)- and vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP)-positive mast cells are not observed in livers with metastases. The present study suggests that liver mast cells are mainly from the MC(TC) type, and are accumulated in peritumoral and metastatic areas. They may play a role in the formation of tumor stroma, or in tumor immunology in liver metastases from various primary gastrointestinal cancers.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

A potent tryptase inhibitor nafamostat mesilate dramatically suppressed pulmonary dysfunction induced in rats by a radiographic contrast medium.

(1) Intravenous injection of ioxaglate (4 g iodine kg(-1)), an iodinated radiographic contrast medium, caused a marked protein extravasation, pulmonary oedema and a decrease in the arterial partial oxygen pressure in rats. (2) All of these reactions to ioxaglate were reversed by the pretreatment with gabexate mesilate (10 and 50 mg kg(-1), 5 min prior to injection) or nafamostat mesilate (3 and 10 mg kg(-1)), in which the inhibition was complete after injection of nafamostat mesilate (10 mg kg(-1)). (3) Both gabexate mesilate and nafamostat mesilate inhibited the activity of purified human lung tryptase, although the latter compound was far more potent than the former. (4) Ioxaglate enhanced the nafamostat-sensitive protease activity in the extracellular fluid of rat peritoneal mast cell suspensions. (5) Tryptase enhanced the permeability of protein through the monolayer of cultured human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. Ioxaglate, when applied in combination with rat peritoneal mast cells, also produced the endothelial barrier dysfunction. These effects of tryptase and ioxaglate were reversed by nafamostat mesilate. (6) Consistent with these findings, immunofluorescence morphological analysis revealed that tryptase or ioxaglate in combination with mast cells increased actin stress fibre formation while decreasing VE-cadherin immunoreactivity. Both of these actions of tryptase and ioxaglate were reversed by nafamostat mesilate. (7) These findings suggest that tryptase liberated from mast cells plays a crucial role in the ioxaglate-induced pulmonary dysfunction. In this respect, nafamostat mesilate may become a useful agent for the cure or prevention of severe adverse reactions to radiographic contrast media.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Cloning of the cDNA encoding mast cell tryptase of Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, and its preferential expression in the intestinal mucosa.

By using the combination of reverse-transcription PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends methods, a cDNA encoding mast cell tryptase was successfully cloned from the small intestine of Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. The cDNA was 1219 bp long including 810 bp of an open reading frame. Based on the deduced amino acid sequences of known mast cell tryptases of other species, the gerbil mast cell tryptase (gMCT) was highly similar to mouse mast cell protease (mMCP)-7, and seems to be translated as a prepro-enzyme with 25 amino acids of signal and activation peptides and 245 amino acids of mature enzyme. The gMCT mRNA was preferentially transcribed in the intestinal mucosa and to a far lesser extent in the connective tissue such as skin and tongue. Moreover, kinetic study after infection revealed that the amount of gMCT mRNA in the small intestine correlated well with the degree of intestinal mastocytosis. Throughout the course of infection, enzyme-histochemically detectable tryptase activity was limited to mucosal mast cells. Since mucosal mast cells of other rodents, including mice and rats, do not express tryptases, this is the first report of rodent mast cell tryptase expressed in the intestinal mucosa.

Amino Acid Sequence↗