Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.1.6.4 (chondroitinase)
 2,039 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Immediate and long-term microvascular effects of chondroitinase ABC, 200 unit/ml, were analyzed in ten hamsters. The immediate effects on the microcirculation were studied by vital microscopy following local injection in the cheek pouch. There were no detectable effects on the microvascular blood flow during the 60 minutes of observation for chondroitinase ABC or the control. A therapeutic concentration (2000 pKat/ml) of chymopapain stopped the microcirculation in the injected area immediately, with numerous microbleedings at the border zone. Long-term effects were studied after subcutaneous injections in the ears of six rabbits. Chondroitinase ABC and the control did not cause any macroscopic or microangiographic effects. However, light microscopy showed a moderate inflammatory reaction in the subcutaneous layer for both chondroitinase ABC and the control. Chymopapain induced severe effects on the cartilage and surrounding tissues. Microangiography revealed a vessel-free zone at the injection site. Since 200 units/ml of chondroitinase ABC is four to eight times higher than the concentration that might be used for chemonucleolysis, i.e., dissolution of intervertebral discs by local enzyme injection, the present investigation suggests a wide margin of safety regarding the potential effects on blood vessels in tissues surrounding the disc.
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PMID:Microvascular effects of chondroitinase ABC and chymopapain. An in vivo experimental study on hamsters and rabbits. 237 64

Although chemonucleolysis with chymopapain is an approved treatment for lumbar intervertebral disk herniation, recent serious complications have raised doubt concerning its safety. It is therefore necessary to search for a safer and more selective agent than chymopapain for chemonucleolysis. Experimental chemonucleolysis with chondroitinase ABC was thus tested and compared with chymopapain. Acute tissue reactions to chondroitinase ABC were investigated and compared with chymopapain. The epidural space, yellow ligament, sciatic nerve, knee joint, and Achilles tendon were examined. Chymopapain damaged nervous and ligamentous tissues as well as cartilaginous tissue. Chondroitinase ABC did not damage nervous and ligamentous tissue. Chondroitinase ABC affected only cartilaginous tissue, and its action was chiefly limited to digestion of the matrix. Chondroitinase ABC has high enzymatic specificity for matrix in vivo. In addition, chondroitinase ABC is less toxic to noncartilaginous tissues than chymopapain. Chondroitinase ABC might be a more suitable and safer enzyme than chymopapain for chemonucleolysis.
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PMID:Comparison of tissue reaction with chondroitinase ABC and chymopapain in rabbits as the basis of clinical application in chemonucleolysis. 764 53