title: Tryptase, a novel angiogenic factor stored in mast cell granules.
abstract: Human mast cells (MCs) are a rich reservoir of neutral proteases, packed in large amounts in their granules and comprising a high fraction of all cellular proteins. Among these proteases, tryptase is involved in angiogenesis after its release from activated MC granules, as it has been demonstrated in different in vitro and in vivo assays. Moreover, tryptase-positive MCs increase in number and vascularization increases in a linear fashion in different solid and hematological tumors. This complex interplay between MCs and tumor angiogenesis have led to consider the therapeutic use of angiogenesis inhibitors, which specifically target the angiogenic activity of tryptase, such as gabexate mesilate and nafamostat mesilate, two inhibitors of trypsin-like serine proteases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; National Cancer Institute "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.ribatti@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ribatti
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ranieri
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D053802:Tryptases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D053802:Tryptases
keywords: Angiogenesis; Anti-angiogenesis; Mast cell; Tryptase; Tumor growth