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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 282, Issue 29, 20785-20789, July 20, 2007

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Minireview

Mast Cell-restricted Tryptases: Structure and Function in Inflammation and Pathogen Defense^*

H. Patrick McNeil¹, Roberto Adachi, and Richard L. Stevens^¶2

From the Department of Rheumatology, Liverpool Hospital and South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 2052, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Center for Lung Inflammation and Infection, Institute for Biosciences and Technology, Houston, Texas 77030, and ^¶Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Mast cells (MCs) are highly specialized immune cells present in mammals and in lower organisms that predate the development of adaptive immunity. The strong evolutionary pressure to retain MCs for >500 million years suggests critical roles for these cells in our survival. In support of this conclusion, no human has been identified to date that lacks MCs, despite the adverse roles of MCs in systemic anaphylaxis and varied inflammatory disorders. MCs express numerous lineage-restricted neutral proteases, and four members of the chromosome 17A3.3 family of tryptases are preferentially expressed in mouse MCs. The anatomical location of MCs at host-environment interfaces has raised the possibility that some of these enzymes are evolutionally conserved because they are needed for combating infectious organisms. Here we review recent insights into the structure and function of MC tryptases in inflammation and host defense against bacteria and other infectious organisms.

^* This minireview will be reprinted in the 2007 Minireview Compendium, which will be available in January, 2008. Supported by NIH Grant HL036110 (to R. L. S.) and by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Physician Scientist Program (to R. A.).

¹ To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: p.mcneil{at}unsw.edu.au. ² To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: rstevens{at}rics.bwh.harvard.edu.

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