Mast Cell-specific Serine Proteases Research Articles

Giardia excretory-secretory proteins modulate the enzymatic activities of mast cell chymase and tryptase

BackgroundMast cells are involved in the host immune response controlling infection with the non-invasive intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis. Experimental infections in rodents with G. intestinalis showed increased intestinal expression of mucosal and connective mast cell specific proteases suggesting that both mucosal and connective tissue mast cells are recruited and activated during infection. During infection Giardia excretory-secretory proteins (ESPs) with immunomodulatory capacity are released. However, studies investigating potential interactions between Giardia ESPs and the connective tissue mast cell specific serine proteases, i.e. human chymase and mouse mast cell protease (mMCP)-4 and, human and mouse tryptase (mMCP-6) remain scarce. ResultsWe first investigated if soluble Giardia proteins (sGPs), which over-lap extensively in protein content with ESP fractions, from the isolates GS, WB and H3, could induce mast cell activation. sGPs induced a minor activation of bone marrow derived mucosal-like mast cells, as indicated by increased IL-6 secretion and no degranulation. Furthermore, sGPs were highly resistant to degradation by human tryptase while human chymase degraded a 65 kDa sGP and, wild-type mouse ear tissue extracts degraded several protein bands in the 10 to 75 kDa range. In striking contrast, sGPs and ESPs were found to increase the enzymatic activity of human and mouse tryptase and to reduce the activity of human and mouse chymase. ConclusionOur finding suggests that Giardia ssp. via enhancement or reduction of mast cell protease activity may modulate mast cell-driven intestinal immune responses. ESP-mediated modulation of the mast cell specific proteases may also increase degradation of tight junctions, which may be beneficial for Giardia ssp. during infection.

β-Tryptase-Inhibitoren als Wirkstoffe gegen allergisches Asthma

Human β-tryptase is a mast cell-specific serine protease with trypsin-like activity that is regarded to play a key role in mast cell-related disorders such as asthma. Thus, to block these disease-associated processes mediated by this protease, in the last decade a diversity of β-tryptase inhibitors has been developed, some of which are promising lead compounds for clinical development.

The inhibitory mechanism analysis of human chymase specific inhibitor TJK002

Chymase is a mast cell specific serine protease that is stored within secretory granules and released together with heparin and histamine in response to allergen challenge or other stimuli. Recent study have shown that chymase possess processing activity for biological peptides and cytokines implicated in a variety of diseases. For example, the chymases of primateds and dogs have highly specific angiotensin II generating activity, and the results of animal studies suggest the chymase contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases via Ang II generation. Based on the results of these studies, inhibition of chymase is expected to provide therapeutic means for the treatment of these diseases. Recently, we have developed some novel benzimidazole derived in human chymase inhibitors and the crystal structure of human chymase complexed with a nobel benzimidazole inhibitor TJK002 was obtained at 2.8A. TJK002 showed potent inhibitory activity (Ki value 2.24nM) with respect to human chymase. X-ray crystallographic structure showed that THK002 forms an anon-covalent interaction with the catalytic domain of human chymase. 4-methylbenzothiophen-3-yl moiety of TJK002 occupies the S1 pocket. The carboxylic acid for hydrogen bonds with the imidazole N (e) atom of H57 and O (g) atoms of Ser195 at the catalytic site. The binding mode of TJK002 is very unique and attractive compared other cymase inhibitors. It depends on the binding mode of TJK002 and reflects to its biological function. Because by site-directed mutagenesis, human mast cell chymase are responsible for an acidic amino acid residue preference in the P2' position of substrates. Chymase inhibitors besides TJK002 have negatively charged p2' moiety. But TJK002 doesn't have such a moiety which binds to S2' site, but it still has a strong incisory activity. We clarify its strong inhibitory mechanism of TJK002 by Fragment molecular orbital (FMO) calculation. We discovered the stacking interaction between the benzimidazole ring and His57 is quite effective for the inhibitory activity of TJK002.

Chymase-mediated intestinal epithelial permeability is regulated by a protease-activating receptor/matrix metalloproteinase-2-dependent mechanism.

Mast cells regulate intestinal barrier function during disease and homeostasis. Secretion of the mast cell-specific serine protease chymase regulates homeostasis. In the present study, we employ in vitro model systems to delineate the molecular pathways involved in chymase-mediated intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction. Chymase stimulation of intestinal epithelial (Caco-2 BBe) cell monolayers induced a significant reduction in transepithelial resistance, indicating decreased intestinal epithelial barrier function. The chymase-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction was characterized by chymase-induced protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 activation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 expression and activation. Consistent with this observation, in vitro analysis revealed chymase-induced PAR-2 activation and increased MAPK activity and MMP-2 expression. Pharmacological and small interfering RNA-mediated antagonism of PAR-2 and MMP-2 significantly attenuated chymase-stimulated barrier dysfunction. Additionally, the chymase/MMP-2-mediated intestinal epithelial dysfunction was associated with a significant reduction in the tight junction protein claudin-5, which was partially restored by MMP-2 inhibition. Finally, incubation of Caco-2 BBe cells with chymase-sufficient, but not chymase-deficient, bone marrow-derived mast cells decreased barrier function, which was attenuated by the chymase inhibitor chymostatin. Collectively, these results suggest that mast cell/chymase-mediated intestinal epithelial barrier function is mediated by PAR-2/MMP-2-dependent pathways.

VEGF Is Involved in the Increase of Dermal Microvascular Permeability Induced by Tryptase

Tryptases are predominantly mast cell-specific serine proteases with pleiotropic biological activities and play a critical role in skin allergic reactions, which are manifested with rapid edema and increases of vascular permeability. The exact mechanisms of mast cell tryptase promoting vascular permeability, however, are unclear and, therefore, we investigated the effect and mechanism of tryptase or human mast cells (HMC-1) supernatant on the permeability of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs). Both tryptase and HMC-1 supernatant increased permeability of HDMECs significantly, which was resisted by tryptase inhibitor APC366 and partially reversed by anti-VEGF antibody and SU5614 (catalytic inhibitor of VEGFR). Furthermore, addition of tryptase to HDMECs caused a significant increase of mRNA and protein levels of VEGF and its receptors (Flt-1 and Flk-1) by Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. These results strongly suggest an important role of VEGF on the permeability enhancement induced by tryptase, which may lead to novel means of controlling allergic reaction in skin.

The arginine mimicking β-amino acid β3hPhe(3-H2N-CH2) as S1 ligand in cyclotheonamide-based β-tryptase inhibitors

β-Tryptase, a mast-cell specific serine protease with trypsin-like activity, has emerged in the last years as a promising novel therapeutic target in the field of allergic inflammation. Recently, we have developed a potent and selective β-tryptase inhibitor based on the natural product cyclotheonamide E4 by implementing a basic P3 residue that addresses the determinants of the extended substrate specificity of β-tryptase. To further improve the affinity/selectivity profile of this lead structure, we have now investigated β-homo-3-aminomethylphenylalanine as S1 ligand. In contrast to the corresponding β-homo amino acids derived from lysine or arginine, we demonstrate that this particular basic β-homo amino acid is a privileged S1 ligand for the development of β-tryptase inhibitors. Besides affinity, selectivity and reduced basicity, these novel cyclotheonamide E4 analogs show excellent stability in human plasma and serum.

Mast cell chymase regulation of homeostatic intestinal epithelial barrier function via PAR‐2/MMP‐2‐dependent and ‐independent mechanisms

Homeostatic intestinal barrier function in vivo is regulated through the secretion of the mast cell-specific serine protease chymase. In the present study, we employ in vitro model systems to delineate the molecular basis of chymase-mediated regulation of intestinal epithelial barrier function. Chymase stimulation of intestinal epithelial cell monolayers induced a biphasic modification of barrier function. The early phase response occurred within 30 minutes and was dependent on the proteolytic activity of chymase and associated with degradation of the epithelial tight junction protein claudin-5. The late phase response occurred 12–24 hours following chymase exposure, and was characterized by chymase-induced protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) activation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 expression and activation. In vitro analysis shows chymase induced PAR-2 activation and increased MAPK activity and MMP-2 expression. PAR-2 and MMP-2 antagonism significantly attenuated the late-phase response of chymase-stimulated barrier dysfunction. Collectively, these results suggest a complex mast cell/chymase-mediated biphasic regulation of intestinal epithelial barrier function. This work wassupported in part by Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network and NIH R01AI073553-01 (S.P.H).

β-Tryptase up-regulates vascular endothelial growth factor expression via proteinase-activated receptor-2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in bone marrow stromal cells in acute myeloid leukemia

Tryptases are predominantly mast cell-specific serine proteases with pleiotropic biological activities. Recently, significant amounts of tryptases have been shown to be produced by myeloblasts in certain patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but the function of secreted tryptases in pathological circumstances remains unknown. In this study, we investigated whether β-tryptase affects the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in AML. We detected the expression of proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) on AML BMSCs and found that β-tryptase significantly up-regulated VEGF mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner by real-time PCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Furthermore, β-tryptase increased ERK1/2 and p38MAPK phosphorylation, and pretreatment with FLLSY-NH2, PD98059, and SB230580 (PAR-2, ERK1/2, and p38MAPK inhibitors, respectively) inhibited the β-tryptase-induced production of VEGF. These results suggest that β-tryptase up-regulates VEGF production in AML BMSCs via the PAR-2, ERK1/2, and p38MAPK signaling pathways.

SCF에서 배양한 결합조직형 비만세포에서 mMCP-6 발현을 조절하는 MITF 이형체

mi transcription factor (MITF)는 비만세포의 분화를 조절하는 중요한 전사인자이다. 특히 MITF는 결합조직형 비만세포에서 일반적으로 발현하는 비만세포 특이적 세린 단백분해효소의 일종인 mMCP-6 유전자의 전사를 조절한다. 본 연구는 마우스 골수유래 배양비만세포에서 mMCP-6 유전자의 전사를 조절하는 MITF이형체를 규명하였다. MITF 이형체들의 발현은 RT-PCR로 확인하였다. IL-3존재 하에서 배양한 점막형 비만세포들은 MITF-A,-E, -H, -Mc 등이 발현하였다. 반면에 SCF존재 하에서 배양한 결합조직형 비만세포들은 MITF-A가 발현하였다. MITF이형체를 과발현시키면 NIH-3T3 세포에서 mMCP-6 promoter를 통한 luciferase 활성을 증가시키고, MC/9 비만세포주에서는 증가된 mMCP-6발현을 유도하였다. 더불어 비만세포에서의 mMCP-6 발현은 MITF-A 고갈로 인하여 유의적으로 억제되었다. MITF-A의 전사활성과 DNA결합은 MITF-E, -H, -Mc 등의 타 이형체들의 결과와 유사하였다. 따라서 본 연구의 결과들은 MITF-A가 마우스 결합조직형 비만세포에서 발현하여 mMCP-6 전사를 조절하는 중요한 이형체임을 제시한다. mi transcription factor (MITF) is important in regulating the differentiation of mast cells. In particular, MITF regulates the transcription of the mouse mast cell-specific serine protease (mMCP)-6 gene, which is generally expressed by the connective tissue-type of mast cells. In this study, we investigated alternative isoforms of MITF that regulate transcription of the mMCP-6 gene in bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells in mice. The expression of MITF isoforms was examined by RT-PCR. We observed that MITF-A, -E, -H and -Mc were expressed by mucosal-type mast cells cultured in the presence of IL-3, whereas the connective tissue-type mast cells cultured in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) expressed MITF-A. Overexpression of MITF isoforms increased luciferase activity through the mMCP-6 promoter in NIH-3T3 cells and elevated the level of mMCP-6 expression in the MC/9 mast cell line. Moreover, mMCP-6 expression in mast cells was significantly inhibited by the depletion of MITF. The transcriptional activity and DNA binding of MITF-A was comparable to that of MITF isoforms, including MITF-E, -H, and -Mc. Our results therefore suggest that MITF-A may be an important isoform of MITF in regulating the transcription of mMCP-6 in mouse connective tissue mast cells.

A target role for mast cell in the prevention and therapy of hepatic fibrosis

Hepatic fibrosis is a common pathological process of chronic hepatic disease. Despite the extensive studies, the pathophysiological mechanisms in hepatic fibrosis remain unclear. Mast cell has a variety of physiological and pathological functions through the production of heparin, histamine, neutrophil chemoattractants, immunoregulatory cytokines, and mast cell-specific serine proteases tryptase and chymase. The survival and proliferation of mast cell are dependent upon stem cell factor. More recently, the data have suggested that mast cell has been associated with hepatic fibrosis in many chronic liver diseases. However, to what extent the mast cell effects the hepatic fibrosis remains to be clarified. Several therapeutic approaches to inhibit mast cell activation have already demonstrated some clinical utility in tissue fibrosis or inflammatory diseases such as the use of mast cell stabilizers, inhibitors of tryptase or chymase, blockade of stem cell factor and anti-IgE therapy. The article introduces the hypothesis that mast cell has a central role when it is affected by its activation state in the progression of hepatic fibrosis, thus new therapeutic strategies for treatment of hepatic fibrosis are suggested by this hypothesis. Considering the important role of mast cell and the development of these tangible therapeutic approaches in hepatic fibrosis will enable us to target any types of chronic liver diseases, which appears to be a more reasonable or a promising strategy.

Mast cell, a promising therapeutic target in tubulointerstitial fibrosis

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a final common pathway to the eventual structural desolation of kidneys. However, the mechanism involved in this phenomenon is still poorly understood, and current therapies are ineffective or only marginally effective. Mast cell has a variety of physiological and pathological functions through the production of heparin, histamine, neutrophil chemoattractants, immunoregulatory cytokines, and mast cell-specific serine proteases tryptase and chymase. The survival and proliferation of mast cell are dependent upon stem cell factor. Presently, mast cells are known to participate in the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in many kidney diseases. Several therapeutic approaches to inhibit mast cell activation have already demonstrated some clinical utility in tissue fibrosis or inflammatory diseases such as the use of mast cell stabilizers, inhibitors of tryptase or chymase, blockade of stem cell factor and anti-IgE therapy. We hypothesize that mast cell has a significant role in the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis, thus the treatment strategies based on mast cell appear to be promising in these conditions. Development of these novel therapeutic approaches will enable us to target any types of renal disease.

Phenotypic characterization of the human mast-cell line HMC-1.

The cell line HMC-1, derived from a patient with mast cell leukaemia, is the only established cell line exhibiting a phenotype similar to that of human mast cells. This paper reports on a detailed characterization of the expression of a panel of markers for various types of immature and mature haematopoietic cells in the HMC-1. We also studied the potential of HMC-1 to differentiate upon treatment with conditioned media from the human T-cell line Mo, retinoic acid or DMSO. HMC-1 was found to express several mast cell-related markers. A high expression of Kit, the receptor for stem-cell factor, was detected. The majority of the cells were stained with a MoAb against the mast cell-specific serine protease tryptase. Of particular interest was the finding that beta-tryptase mRNA, but not alpha-tryptase mRNA, was expressed in HMC-1. Using enzyme-histochemistry we were able to show that the beta-tryptase was enzymatically active, indicating that tryptase can form active homotetramers. Both heparin and chondroitin sulfate were found to be present in approximately equal amounts. HMC-1 lacked surface expression of the high-affinity IgE receptor, which was confirmed by the absence of mRNA of the alpha- and beta-chains of the IgE-receptor complex. However, a strong expression of the gamma-chain of the IgE-receptor complex was detected. A positive staining of the monocyte/macrophage marker CD68 was obtained, as well as a strong hybridization signal for the eosinophilic/basophilic-related differentiation marker the Charcot-Leyden crystal. Treatment of HMC-1 with conditioned media from the human T-cell line Mo, retinoic acid or DMSO induced only moderate changes in the surface or intracellular expression of the studied markers. The agents tested neither induced any of the monocyte/granulocyte markers examined, nor expression of the Fc epsilon RI alpha-chain.

Cloning and structural analysis of MMCP‐1, MMCP‐4 and MMCP‐5, three mouse mast cell‐specific serine proteases

Here we present the cloning of three novel mouse mast cell-specific serine proteases, MMCP-1, MMCP-4 and MMCP-5. A region of approximately 4 kb covering the five exons and 930 bp 5' and 280 bp 3' flanking sequences of the gene for MMCP-1 was characterized by nucleotide sequence analysis. A comparison with the corresponding region of the rat mucosal mast cell-specific protease RMCP-II is presented. cDNA clones for the mast cell proteases MMCP-4 (950 bp) and MMCP-5 (1098 bp) were isolated from a cDNA library of a connective tissue mast cell-like mouse mastocytoma cell line. All three proteases were found to belong to the family of chymotrypic serine proteases as deduced from the absence of the Asp 189 which is characteristic for all serine proteases having cleavage specificities similar to pancreatic trypsin. The active polypeptides, excluding possible post-translational glycosylations, have an Mr of 25-26 kDa. Analysis of the amino acid composition reveals a positive net charge for all three proteases MMCP-1 +3, MMCP-4 +18 and MMCP-5 +12). Based on their high sequence identity (88%) and high positive net charges (+18 and +18, respectively) we assume that the MMCP-4 is the mouse homolog to rat RMCP-I. Probes specific for each of these three highly homologous protease genes have been generated by subcloning of fragments of approximately 100 bp in length, originating from the 3' ends of the mRNA into plasmid vectors. Northern blot analysis of mRNA from a number of murine cell lines shows gene expression of these proteases to be specific for the differentiation stage of the mast cell. The MMCP-1 is expressed only at the mucosal mast cell stage and 5 only in mast cells of the connective tissue mast cell stage. These serine proteases may serve as highly specific markers in the analysis of mast cell heterogeneity, differentiation and function.