Tryptase (10D11) Mouse mAb #65164

Tryptase is the most abundant neutral serine protease expressed in the secretory granules of all human mast cells (1). Tryptase is secreted upon the coupled activation-degranulation response of mast cells in peripheral tissues to physical factors such as trauma, toxins, venoms, endogenous mediators, and immune mechanisms (IgE-dependent and IgE-independent) (2). Tryptase has distinct enzymatic functions that depend on the monomeric or homotetrameric state of this protein, the pH of the environment, and the presence or absence of heparin (3-5). Tryptase has the ability to cleave extracellular substrates such as vasoactive intestinal peptides (6), calcitonin gene-related peptides (7), fibronectins (8), fibrinogens (3), and kininogens (9). Tryptase is also a potent growth factor for epithelial cells, airway smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts (10-13).