Mast Cell Protease-1/Mcpt1 Products

Mast cell protease-1 (Mcpt1), also known as beta-chymase, is a member of the Chymase family of chymotrypsin-like serine proteases. mMcpt1 is a mast cell protease predominantly expressed in intestinal mucosal mast cells where it promotes mucosal permeability in intestinal allergic hypersensitivity reactions. Its activation is completed by the removal of a two residue N-terminal propeptide by a dipeptidyl peptidase (Cathepsin C). Like human alpha-Chymase, Mcpt1 is capable of the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which plays a key role in the regulation of arterial pressure. Studies have shown that specific chymase inhibitors are able to diminish the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm and reduce the adhesion formation after cardiac surgery in hamsters. Therefore, the development of specific inhibitors of chymase activity has been a pharmacologic strategy to develop therapeutic agents.