The autocrine role of tryptase in pressure overload-induced mast cell activation, chymase release and cardiac fibrosis

BackgroundCardiac mast cell (MC) proteases, chymase and tryptase, increase proliferation and collagen synthesis in cultured cardiac fibroblasts. However, the question as to why preventing individually the actions of either protease prevents fibrosis when both are released upon MC activation remains unanswered. Since tryptase has the ability to activate MCs in noncardiac tissues via the protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), there is the possibility that its, in vivo, fibrotic role is due to its ability to induce MC degranulation thereby amplifying the release of chymase.MethodsThis study sought to delineate the interactions between tryptase and chymase in myocardial remodeling secondary to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) for 5 weeks in male Sprague–Dawley rats untreated or treated with either the tryptase inhibitor, nafamostat mesilate or MC membrane stabilizing drug, nedocromil (n = 6/group). In addition, ventricular slices from 6 rat hearts were incubated with tryptase, tryptase plus nafamostat mesilate or the chymase inhibitor chymostatin for 24 h.Results and conclusionThe results indicate the presence of PAR-2 on MCs and that tryptase inhibition and nedocromil prevented TAC-induced fibrosis and increases in MC density, activation, and chymase release. Tryptase also significantly increased chymase concentration in ventricular slice culture media, which was prevented by the tryptase inhibitor. Hydroxyproline concentration in culture media was significantly increased with tryptase incubation as compared to the control group and the tryptase group incubated with nafamostat mesilate or chymostatin. We conclude that tryptase contributes to TAC-induced cardiac fibrosis primarily via activation of MCs and the amplified release of chymase.