title: Establishment of an assay method for human mast cell chymase.
abstract: Chymase secreted by mast cells found in fibroblast-containing interstitial connective tissue has been implicated in collagen fiber formation and extracellular matrix production. We established a method for determination of human chymase activity, and applied this technique to measurements in serum and liver tissue. The mean chymase concentration in liver biopsy specimens from 26 patients with chronic hepatitis was 5.23+/-5.98 ng/mg (ranges 0.32-21.4). The serum chymase concentration was below the limit of detection, in both chronic hepatitis patients and healthy individuals. No significant relationship was seen between chymase activity in liver tissue and severity of liver fibrosis, but further investigation in larger numbers of patients is warranted.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8603, Tokyo, Japan
authors.forename: Katsuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satomura
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Takamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagato
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komeichi
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osuga
authors.forename: Yasumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katsuta
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aramaki
authors.forename: Yasukazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Omoto