The inhibition of mast cell activation by neutrophil lactoferrin: uptake by mast cells and interaction with tryptase, chymase and cathepsin G.

Inhibitors of mast cell tryptase and chymase can be effective as mast cell stabilising compounds. Lactoferrin has been reported to inhibit tryptase activity, but its actions on other serine proteases of mast cells and its potential to alter mast cell function are not known. We have examined the ability of lactoferrin to inhibit mast cell tryptase, chymase and cathepsin G, and investigated its potential to modulate the activation of human mast cells.