Granzyme D is a novel murine mast cell protease that is highly induced by multiple pathways of mast cell activation.

Granzymes are serine proteases known mostly for their role in the induction of apoptosis. Granzymes A and B have been extensively studied, but relatively little is known about granzymes C to G and K to M. T cells, lymphohematopoietic stromal cells, and granulated metrial gland cells express granzyme D, but the function of granzyme D is unknown. Here we show that granzyme D is expressed by murine mast cells and that its level of expression correlates positively with the extent of mast cell maturation. Coculture of mast cells with live, Gram-positive bacteria caused a profound, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-dependent induction of granzyme D expression. Granzyme D expression was also induced by isolated bacterial cell wall components, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan, and by stem cell factor, IgE receptor cross-linking, and calcium ionophore stimulation. Granzyme D was released into the medium in response to mast cell activation. Granzyme D induction was dependent on protein kinase C and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). Together, these findings identify granzyme D as a novel murine mast cell protease and implicate granzyme D in settings where mast cells are activated, such as bacterial infection and allergy.