SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2008 4/23/2008 Tryptase Can Generate Anaphylatoxins Summary The authors examined the potential for beta-tryptase to generate biologically active fragments of complement - the anaphylatoxins. They demonstrated that tryptase could generate C3a, C4a, and C5a. Different factors maximized this release. The C3a and C5a generated by beta-tryptase could degranulate skin mast cells. Beta-tryptase also generated C3a from C3 in human plasma at an acidic pH. They interpreted these results as suggesting that beta-tryptase might generate complement anaphylatoxins in vivo at sites of inflammation. This biological effect could explain the appearance of complement activation in the lung in asthmatics, and in the circulation of individuals experiencing anaphylaxis. Reference Yoshihiro F, et al. Generation of anaphylatoxins by human beta-tryptase from C3, C4, and C5. Journal of Immunology 2008; 180:6307-6316.   © Copyright 1997-2008 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology All rights reserved