Role of mast cell proteases in tissue remodeling.

Mast cells specifically localize within the bronchial smooth muscle bundles in patients with asthma but not in normal individuals. Tryptase and other proteases such as chymase are abundant in mast cell granules and have recently been reported to be involved in the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells. In this chapter, therefore, the role of proteases other than fibrolytic activity is reviewed.