Loss of the activity of human coagulation factor XII by a chymotrypsin-like protease activated in rat mast cells during degranulation with compound 48/80.

Mediator release from mast cells is an initial step in the immediate-type hypersensitivity. Thus, the interaction of neutral proteases released from mast cells with plasma kallikrein-kinin system was investigated. Two proteases, chymotrypsin-like (CHY) and trypsin-like (TRY) proteases, were activated in purified rat mast cells after degranulation with compound 48/80. Three fourths of the CHY activity remained in the cell residue, and the activity was inhibited by chymostatin, whereas most of the TRY activity was released in the medium and was inhibited by leupeptin. The incubation of rat or human plasma with degranulated mast cell (DMC) suspension did not cause the activation of plasma prekallikrein, but did cause a loss in the activity of coagulation factor XII, as ascertained by the lack of activation of prekallikrein in either the DMC-treated plasma by glass powder or in the incubation of DMC-treated human plasma with factor XII deficient plasma activated by kaolin. The prekallikrein and high-molecular-weight kininogen levels were sufficient for activation of factor XII.