Gila monsters are known to us as they secrete the incretins in their saliva.
But in this issue of JCI - the cover page is gila monster , Mast cells battle Gila monster venom
Heloderma suspectum, also known as the venomous Gila monster lizard. In this issue, Akahoshi and colleagues investigated whether mast cells can enhance resistance to the venom of the Gila monster (page 4180). Using two types of mast cell–deficient mice as well as mice selectively lacking mast cell–derived protease activities, the authors found that mast cells can enhance host resistance to the toxicity of Gila monster venom and can reduce the morbidity and mortality induced by venoms from two species of scorpions.