Gila monsters are large venomous lizards. Although envenomation by the Gila monster is not often fatal to adult humans, it results in intense pain, swelling, weakness, and nausea. A team of researchers, led by Stephen Galli, at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, has now uncovered a natural mechanism by which mice reduce the toxicity, and thereby the morbidity and mortality, of Gila monster venom — immune cells known as mast cells release the protein MCPT4, which degrades the Gila monster venom helodermin. This mechanism also acted to reduce the toxicity of venom from 2 species of scorpions. These data provide insight into the benefits of mast cells, which have long been viewed as contributors to disease, in particular anaphylaxis and allergic diseases.
TITLE: Mast cell chymase reduces the toxicity of Gila monster venom, scorpion venom, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in mice
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Stephen J. Galli
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Phone: 650.723.7975; Fax: 650.725.6902; E-mail: sgalli@stanford.edu .
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/46139?key=c8b720d007616d1c6bde
Journal of Clinical Investigation