We previously reported that mast cells express renin, the rate-limiting enzyme in the renin-angiotensin cascade. We have now assessed whether mast cell renin release triggers angiotensin formation in the airway. In isolated rat bronchial rings, mast cell degranulation released enzyme with angiotensin I-forming activity blocked by the selective renin inhibitor BILA2157. Local generation of angio...

Primate alpha-chymases are mast cell neutral proteases that are involved in regulating several regulatory peptides including angiotensin II. Because of significant substrate specificity differences among the chymase group of enzymes, animal models that overexpress primate chymases are crucial for delineating the in vivo function of these enzymes. Activation of alpha-prochymase requires processi...

Mast cells are one of the main inflammatory cells involved in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. Previous reports revealed that mast cells participated in both acute and chronic states of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through direct contact or indirect enhancement by releasing mediators. The authors evaluated mast cell density on tissue sections of tuberculous lymphadenitis stained w...

BACKGROUND Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission may have ultrasound-defined synovitis according to the presence of power Doppler (PD) signal. The objective was to describe the immunopathologic characteristics of ultrasound-defined synovitis compared with synovitis in patients with clinically active RA. METHODS We included between 6 and 8 ultrasound-guided synovial bio...

OBJECTIVE Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a premalignant condition of oral cavity characterized by inflammation and progressive mucosal fibrosis. It has questionable pathogenesis. Mast cells (MC) have been associated with variety of inflammatory and fibrotic conditions, but little is known about their role in OSMF. Mast cells have been studied in normal gingiva, chronic inflammatory gingiviti...

Introduction: Positive effects of topical application of honey on open skin wounds have been observed, Mast cell are playing role in normal wound healing and its disturbances but the role of mast cells in wound healing in existence of honey is uncertain. Objective: The aim of this investigation was to study the effects of two times per day topical application of honey on the number of mas...