Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.21.1 (chymotrypsin)
10,938 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have shown that depletion of monocytes from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by L-phenylalanine methyl ester (PheOMe) enhanced lymphokine-activated killer cell (LAK) generation by recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) at high cell density. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism of action of PheOMe on LAK activation by using trypsin, chymotrypsin, tosylphenylalaninechloromethanol (TPCK, a chymotrypsin inhibitor), tosyl-L-lysinechloromethane (TLCK, a trypsin inhibitor), phenylalaninol (PheOH), and benzamidine. PBMC were treated with 1-5 mM PheOMe for 40 min at room temperature in combination with the various agents, washed and assessed for their effects on natural killer (NK) activity against K562 cells and monocyte depletion. The treated cells were then cultured with or without rIL-2 for 3 days. LAK cytotoxicity was assayed against 51Cr-labeled K562 and Raji tumor target cells. TPCK at 10 micrograms/ml partially inhibited depletion of monocytes by PheOMe. TLCK did not prevent depletion of monocytes nor inhibition of NK activity induced by PheOMe. TPCK and TLCK inhibited NK activity by themselves. TPCK but not TLCK inhibited rIL-2 induction of LAK cells. On the other hand, PheOH and benzamidine (analogs of PheOMe) lacked any effect on monocyte depletion but abrogated the inhibitory effect of PheOMe on NK activity. They had no effect on rIL-2 activation of LAK activity enhanced by PheOMe. Trypsin potentiated the inhibitory effect of PheOMe on NK activity and monocyte depletion. Trypsin partially inhibited IL-2 activation of LAK activity enhanced by PheOMe. Chymotrypsin had little effect on NK activity but prevented the inhibitory effect of PheOMe on NK activity. It had little effect on monocyte depletion induced by PheOMe. PheOMe was hydrolysed by monocytes and chymotrypsin to Phe and methanol as determined by HPLC. TPCK inhibited hydrolysis of PheOMe by monocytes. Our data suggest that the effects of PheOMe on monocytes, NK cells and LAK activation involve protease activities of monocytes.
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PMID:Human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells: III. Effect of L-phenylalanine methyl ester on LAK cell activation from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: possible protease involvement of monocytes, natural killer cells and LAK cells. 176 Aug 8

We have identified a late, committed stage in the differentiation of the mast cell progenitor just before granulation. Mast cell committed progenitors (MCCP) are nongranulated cells with a density of 1.060 to 1.070 g/ml which can be harvested from the mesenteric lymph node of mice infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Mast cell-committed progenitors are able to proliferate and differentiate in the absence of IL-3 or IL-4 when cultured on a monolayer of embryonic skin or 3T3 fibroblasts and can form colonies in methylcellulose supplemented with fibroblast conditioned medium. Fibroblast conditioned medium appears to contain a soluble MCCP proliferation factor that maintains biologic activity when heated to 56 degrees C for 45 min but is destroyed by incubation with either trypsin or chymotrypsin. It can be selectively precipitated with 60 to 70% saturated ammonium sulfate. The factor is not absorbed by immobilized antibodies to nerve growth factor. The MCCP proliferation activity of the factor could not be mimicked by IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, granulocyte-macrophage-CSF, granulocyte-CSF, macrophage-CSF, IFN-alpha/beta, IFN-gamma, nerve growth factor, epidermal growth factor, serum fibronectin, heparin, or a number of glycosaminoglycans. At high salt concentrations, the factor passes through a 50-kDa membrane and can be concentrated above a 5-kDa membrane. MCCP acquire a connective tissue phenotype when cultured on a fibroblast monolayer and a mucosal phenotype when cloned in the presence of conditioned medium from PWM-stimulated spleen cells. When cultured in the absence of IL-3 on a monolayer of embryonic skin or 3T3 fibroblasts, mast cell-committed progenitors produce mast cells which stain with berberine sulfate suggesting a connective tissue phenotype; however, the mast cells that develop when mast cell-committed progenitors are cultured in the presence of IL-3 or conditioned media from PWM-stimulated spleen cells do not stain with berberine sulfate. MCCP intercalate into monolayers of embryonic skin or 3T3 fibroblasts, but T cells are not able to associate with the monolayer and can be completely washed away. Attempts to enrich mast cell-committed progenitors by intercalation and elution from embryonic skin monolayers proved unsuccessful, but some enrichment of mast cell-committed progenitors could be achieved by discontinuous Percoll gradients. Thus, we have identified a way to obtain late-stage, mast cell-committed progenitors in an environment that is virtually uncontaminated with other hematopoietic progenitors.
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PMID:The mast cell-committed progenitor. I. Description of a cell capable of IL-3-independent proliferation and differentiation without contact with fibroblasts. 278 62

A new trypsin-like serine protease was cloned from both a murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte and a human PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocyte cDNA library. In both the mouse and human system, this transcript had a T cell- and NK-specific distribution, being detected in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), some T-helper clones, and NK, but not in a variety of normal tissues. T-cell activation with Con A plus IL-2 induced mouse spleen cells to express this gene with kinetics correlating with the acquisition of cytolytic capacity. Both the mouse and human nucleotide sequences of this gene encoded an amino acid sequence with 25-40% identity to members of the serine protease family. The active-site "charge-relay" residues (His-57, Asp-102, and Ser-195 of the chymotrypsin numbering system) are conserved, as well as the trypsin-specific Asp (position 189 in trypsin). We reviewed the evidence of this serine protease's role in lymphocyte lysis and proposed a "lytic cascade." We discussed the biological and clinical implications of a cascade, proposing these enzymes as markers for cytolytic cells and as targets for rational drug therapy. Genetic and acquired deficits in the lethal hit-delivery system are considered as a basis for approaching some immunodeficiency states, including severe EBV infections, T-gamma leukemias, and T8+ lymphocytosis syndromes.
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PMID:A T cell- and natural killer cell-specific, trypsin-like serine protease. Implications of a cytolytic cascade. 305 12

Infection of monocyte-macrophages with human immunodeficiency virus may be central to the pathogenesis of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The ability of infected macrophages to prime T cells through IL-1 production was investigated in vitro. Purified human monocytes maintained in suspension culture were infected with strain HIV-DV. Intracellular expression of virus p24 antigen increased from undetectable levels immediately after infection to 13-59% of cells by 10-14 d; infected macrophages remained viable for up to 60 d. Supernatants collected between 14 and 20 d after infection were examined in the murine thymocyte co-mitogenesis assay and demonstrated to contain a potent IL-1 inhibitor, designated contra-IL-1. Contra-IL-1 activity was present in all supernatants examined after 4 d of infection, and peaked coincident with peak p24 antigen expression. Inhibitory activity was not present in uninfected cells. Contra-IL-1 activity eluted after gel filtration with an approximate molecular weight of 9 kD. Inhibitory activity was removed by exposure to heat or acid pH, or by incubation with chymotrypsin or staphylococcal V8 protease. Contra-IL-1 did not inhibit IL-2- or IL-4-dependent proliferation of murine T cell lines. Despite its ability to inhibit IL-1 activity, contra-IL-1 did not interfere with the binding of recombinant IL-1 beta to a fibroblast cell line. Contra-IL-1 inhibited the proliferation of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells to both concanavalin A and tetanus toxoid; inhibition could be attenuated by the addition of exogenous IL-1. Messenger RNA extracted from infected macrophages was examined by Northern analysis for the presence of message to IL-1 beta. No message was apparent, suggesting that the presence of contra-IL-1 was not obscuring the concomitant release of IL-1. Infected macrophages stimulated with endotoxin generated readily detectable message for IL-1 beta. Spleen macrophages purified from two patients with AIDS complicated by immune thrombocytopenia spontaneously expressed p24 antigen in vitro and released contra-IL-1 activity into the media. Contra-IL-1 may contribute to the immune dysfunction of AIDS.
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PMID:Release of interleukin 1 inhibitory activity (contra-IL-1) by human monocyte-derived macrophages infected with human immunodeficiency virus in vitro and in vivo. 326 91

We have identified a neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) in supernatants from human blood mononuclear cells (MNC) cultured in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Maximal activity was observed 48 hr after culture. Following gel filtration, NCF eluted as a single major peak, together with proteins, having a molecular size of approximately 10,000 MW. The material gave a single band on SDS-PAGE but was heterogeneous following chromatofocusing (pIs approximately 6.8-7.0, 5.5-6.0 and 5.0). The biological activity of the partially purified material was abolished by trypsin and chymotrypsin treatment. NCF was heat stable (70 degrees, 60 min) and promoted both directional migration (chemotaxis) of neutrophils and, to a lesser extent, stimulated random locomotion (chemokinesis). The factor was not associated with detectable amounts of IL-1, IL-2 or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). MNC-derived NCF had a molecular size lower than recombinant granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) and recombinant tumour necrosis factor (rTNF), and was considerably more active in chemotaxis. Optimal chemotactic concentrations of partially purified MNC-derived NCF were of comparable potency to FMLP and LTB4 and had about 60% of the activity of optimal concentrations of C5a, C5a-des-Arg and platelet-activating factor (PAF). These experiments indicate that the human MNC-derived NCF is a potent chemo-attractant distinct from other cytokines previously reported to promote neutrophil locomotion.
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PMID:The identification and partial characterization of a human mononuclear cell-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor apparently distinct from IL-1, IL-2, GM-CSF, TNF and IFN-gamma. 329 7

Human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), which irreversibly entraps proteinases through a drastic conformational change, has also been reported to bind various cytokines. The meaning of cytokine binding to native and/or transformed alpha 2M molecules is, however, not understood. In an attempt to elucidate this question, we have studied the interaction of radioiodinated recombinant human interleukin-2 (125I-rhIL-2) with native and chymotrypsin (alpha 2M-C)- or methylamine-transformed (alpha 2M-MA) alpha 2M. Our results show that native and alpha 2M-MA are able to bind 125I-rhIL-2, with binding occurring only with the latter in a covalent manner, whereas the labeled cytokine is proteolyzed when incubated with alpha 2M-entrapped chymotrypsin. The degradation of uncomplexed 125I-rhIL-2 has also been observed in the presence of trypsin, whereas 125I-rhIL-2 bound to alpha 2M-MA is protected. Moreover, the proliferative activity of this cytokine on responsive cells is still maintained either with native alpha 2M- or alpha 2M-MA-complexed rhIL-2 in comparison with that observed with the cytokine alone. Our results, which lead us to consider alpha 2M molecules as IL-2-binding proteins, emphasize the possible role of these molecules as immune response regulators.
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PMID:Evidence for the binding of a biologically active interleukin-2 to human alpha 2-macroglobulin. 753 36

The chance of life-threatening complications occurring late after brain irradiation limits the efficacy of this form of cancer therapy. The molecular and cellular events that trigger radiation-induced brain damage are still unknown, but since they have the potential to serve as valuable targets for therapeutic intervention they are worth delineating. In this murine study, the effect of irradiation on the expression of molecules which are known to contribute to brain damage in other model systems was examined. Expression of genes encoding cytokines (TNF-alpha/beta, IL-1 alpha/beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IFN-gamma), cytokine receptors (TNF-Rp55 and p75, IL-1R- p60 and p80, IFN-gamma R, and IL-6R), the cell adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS), anti-chymotrypsin (EB22/5.3), and the gliotic marker (GFAP) was evaluated over a 6-month period using a sensitive RNase protection assay (RPA). We had previously demonstrated that within 24 h of brain irradiation there is an acute transitory molecular response involving TNF-alpha, IL-1, ICAM-1, EB22/5.3 and GFAP. This study shows re-elevation of TNF-alpha, EB22/5.3 and GFAP mRNA levels at 2-3 months, but only TNF-alpha mRNA was overexpressed at 6 months. These time points are when neurological abnormalities are seen after higher doses. The data suggest that TNF-alpha may be involved in late brain responses to irradiation and could contribute to clinical symptoms.
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PMID:Delayed molecular responses to brain irradiation. 924 93

When we assessed cytokine levels in both plasma and serum from the patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy volunteers, we found that IL-2, 5 and 10, and IFN-gamma were significantly elevated in the plasma from atopic dermatitis patients but not in their sera and that, in an average, each cytokine level, especially IL-2 level is far higher in plasma than in serum. In order to solve the cause for this dissociation. Calcium ion was dose-dependently added in the plasma in which calcium ion had been inactivated by citrate contained in the plasma. Protease inhibitors, PMSF, aprotinin and leupeptin were added in the plasma in which each cytokine was decreased in the presence of calcium ion. Finally, in RPMI medium where cytokine IL-2 or IL-10 is present, proteases, thrombin, trypsin and chymotrypsin themselves were introduced. Results revealed that addition of calcium ion dose-dependently decreased each cytokine level in the plasma, respectively. Protease inhibitors, PMSF, aprotinin and leupeptin significantly elevated each cytokine level in the plasma where cytokines had been decreased by the presence of calcium ion, respectively. These changes were comparable between plasma and blood cell-containing plasma, attesting that the effect of enzymes released from the calcium ion-activated neutrophil granules on the decrease in cytokine levels is negligible. Cytokines, IL-2 itself was also decreased in the presence of calcium ion alone, or in the presence of both proteases, thrombin, trypsin or chymotrypsin itself, and calcium, respectively. This study suggests that calcium ion itself or calcium ion-activated protease may denature the cytokine and that for this reason, cytokine should be, in general in our laboratory, assessed in not serum but plasma.
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PMID:[Cytokine assessed in the serum are denatured by calcium ion and resultantly activated protease]. 1022 85

Changes in the levels of cytokines in the circulating blood and skin have been reported in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). We determined IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 in both the serum and plasma of 45 AD patients and 20 healthy donors. Since differences in the levels of these cytokines between serum and plasma were found, the roles of Ca2+ and proteolytic enzymes were examined. Levels of IL-2 and IL-10 were measured in citrated plasma to which various amounts of CaCl2, protease inhibitors, and proteases had been added. All cytokine determinations were carried out using a standard ELISA. The plasma levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-5 were significantly elevated, but the serum levels of these cytokines were not significantly changed. The levels of IL-2 in the plasma of the AD patients averaged 4.25-fold higher than in the serum of the AD patients, and 2.5-fold higher than in the plasma of healthy controls (P < 0.001). CaCl2 produced a dose-dependent decrease in IL-2 and IL-10 in citrated plasma. The protease inhibitors PMSF, aprotinin and leupeptin produced a dose-dependent increase in measurable levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in plasma. A decrease in IL-2 levels was also seen in CaCl2-supplemented serum-free medium, and this was accentuated by the addition of the proteases thrombin, trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase. These findings suggest that although significant changes in cytokine levels have been reported not to occur in circulating blood but have been reported to occur in the skin of AD patients both in vivo and in vitro, cytokines can indeed also be found to be elevated in circulating blood when assessed carefully by statistically valid methods. Further, it is suggested that during the preparation of serum, some circulating cytokines are degraded by calcium-dependent proteases, and that Ca2+ itself can also affect the measurement of cytokines. The measurement of circulating cytokines needs to be carefully reassessed.
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PMID:Evidence for degradation of cytokines in the serum of patients with atopic dermatitis by calcium-dependent protease. 1099 73

A large number of trypsin inhibitors belonging to various types have been purified from different kinds of legumes. In this study, by using liquid chromatography, a Kunitz type trypsin inhibitor (KBTI) with a molecular weight of 20107.645 Da was purified from Korean large black soybeans. KBTI reduced the proteolytic activities of trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin with the activity of approximately 8520 BAEE units/mg and approximately 24 BTEE units/mg, respectively. It showed high thermal stability (0-100 degrees C) as well as stability over a large range of pH values (pH 3-11). Furthermore, KBTI inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity with an IC(50) value of 0.71 microM and induced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2 and interferon-gamma at the mRNA level. KBTI exerted weak antiproliferative activity toward CNE-2 and HNE-2 nasopharyngeal cancer cells, MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and Hep G2 hepatoma cells. KBTI was destitute of mitogenic, ribonuclease and antifungal activities.
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PMID:Thermostable Kunitz trypsin inhibitor with cytokine inducing, antitumor and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activities from Korean large black soybeans. 2015 65


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