Mast Cell Proteoglycans |
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Authors: | Elin R?nnberg Fabio R Melo Gunnar Pejler |
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Institution: | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Uppsala, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Mast cells are versatile effector cells of the immune system, contributing to both innate
and adaptive immunity toward pathogens but also having profound detrimental activities in
the context of inflammatory disease. A hallmark morphological feature of mast cells is
their large content of cytoplasmic secretory granules, filled with numerous secretory
compounds, including highly negatively charged heparin or chondroitin sulfate
proteoglycans of serglycin type. These anionic proteoglycans provide the basis for the
strong metachromatic staining properties of mast cells seen when applying various cationic
dyes. Functionally, the mast cell proteoglycans have been shown to have an essential role
in promoting the storage of other granule-contained compounds, including bioactive
monoamines and different mast cell-specific proteases. Moreover, granule proteoglycans
have been shown to regulate the enzymatic activities of mast cell proteases and to promote
apoptosis. Here, the current knowledge of mast cell proteoglycans is reviewed. |
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Keywords: | mast cells proteoglycans secretory granules serglycin proteases |
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