Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.21.37 (neutrophil elastase)
 4,078 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The lysosomal cysteine proteinase cathepsin B is shown to be secreted by ten human colon carcinoma cell lines and to accumulate in culture media as a latent enzyme. The cell lines also secrete a physiological inhibitor of cathepsin B, cystatin C. A significant correlation was found between secretion of the latent enzyme and the inhibitor (r = 0.755, P < 0.01). The aim of the present study was to modulate the respective secretion of the two antagonists to test whether or not latency of cathepsin B was due to the concomitant secretion of the inhibitor. SW480 colon carcinoma cells were treated with the acidotropic agent ammonium chloride, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and the inflammatory cytokines TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta. Ammonium chloride significantly increased latent cathepsin B levels without affecting the constitutive secretion of cystatin C. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced a 4- to 5-fold increase in secreted latent cathepsin B, but did not alter significantly the accumulation of cystatin C in media. The cytokines, TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta, had no major effect on the expression of these two antagonists. Latent cathepsin B released from human carcinoma cells could be efficiently activated by neutrophil elastase at neutral pH. It is concluded that latent cathepsin B is a true proenzyme rather than an enzyme-inhibitor complex. In addition, our data from neutrophil elastase activation experiments indicate that a proteolytic system for activation of the tumor cell-secreted latent enzyme may exist in vivo.
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PMID:Latency of cathepsin B secreted by human colon carcinoma cells is not linked to secretion of cystatin C and is relieved by neutrophil elastase. 820 57

We immunohistologically studied the hepatic tissue sections in cases with the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP syndrome; n = 2) and acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP; n = 2) compared to necropsy controls. Unlike in the AFLP cases, a marked infiltration of neutrophils in liver tissues was found in both cases of the HELLP syndrome. Immunostaining with the antihuman (polyclonal) TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-8 and antihuman neutrophil elastase (monoclonal antibody) was performed in paraffin-embedded hepatic tissue sections. Liver tissues in HELLP syndrome patients were stained strongly with TNF-alpha and neutrophil elastase antibody. The strongest staining pattern was observed in the eclamptic case, whereas in the AFLP cases, as in the necropsy controls, a very weak staining for anti-TNF-alpha and elastase antibody was found. The liver sections of the HELLP syndrome cases were moderately stained with polyclonal IL-1 beta and IL-8 antibodies whereas AFLP and controls had a very faint staining. Significant correlations were found between the numbers of necrotic hepatocytes and elastase dots in the same microscopic fields (randomly selected) of liver sections from two cases of HELLP syndrome (r2 = 0.63; p < 0.0001), which might suggest a neutrophil-mediated tissue damage in such a disease. This study suggests that a cytokine- and neutrophil-mediated liver injury occurs in the HELLP syndrome but not in AFLP.
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PMID:Immunohistological study in cases of HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets) and acute fatty liver of pregnancy. 883 70

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is a critical condition developing in the patients under overwhelming surgical insults such as a major surgery, severe trauma, extensive burn, and systemic sepsis. The host response to those surgical insults is the main pathogenetic factor contributing to the development of shock and MODS seen in surgical patients. The proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha (TNF) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1), are known to play a pivotal role in the pathogenetic mechanisms of MODS. In response to surgical insults, macrophages produce and release TNF and IL-1 which subsequently induce the production of other cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, etc.) and other endogenous chemical mediators (growth factors, adhesion molecules, complement cleavage products, thrombin, eicosanoids, PAF, nitric oxides, oxygen-free radicals, granulocyte elastase, etc.) The resultant systemic inflammation may develop into shock and MODS when the primary insults are overwhelming (early MODS) or a second inflammatory insult such as sepsis triggers an exaggerated inflammation. In the patients suffering from MODS, a systemic release of various cytokines is not properly regulated, and the high blood levels of the proinflammatory cytokines induce an autodestructive generalized inflammatory reaction. This condition is termed "Cytokine Storm" by the author. In the cytokine storm, not only proinflammatory cytokines but also anti-inflammatory cytokines are elevated in the blood stream. With the recent understanding of the biological and pathological roles of cytokines and other mediators, a new therapeutic strategy has been developed. In addition to the reduction of the surgical insults, a variety of anti-cytokine therapy and anti-mediator therapy has been tested in an attempt to prevent or treat the life-threatening MODS.
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PMID:[Cytokine storm in the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome associated with surgical insults]. 894 Jun 90

Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) is a specific cytoskeletal structure of simple epithelia, including bronchial epithelial cells (BEC). Since CK19 is released from injured bronchial epithelium, we investigated the levels of CK19 fragments in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of eight patients with chronic airway inflammatory diseases (CAID) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Included in our test group were four cases of chronic bronchitis, three cases of bronchiectasis, and one case of diffuse panbronchiolitis. There were also 15 control subjects (five asymptomatic smokers and 10 nonsmokers). BALF from the nonsmokers as well as from the asymptomatic smokers contained few CK19 fragments (0.2 +/- 0.2 and 1.9 +/- 0.8 pg/ml, respectively). In contrast, significantly high levels of CK19 were present in the BALF of patients with CAID (21.7 +/- 5.7 pg/ml; p < 0.01 versus nonsmoking controls). In addition, CK19 fragment concentrations in BALF correlated significantly with the number of neutrophils (r = 0.722, p < 0.01) but not with the numbers of macrophages or lymphocytes in BALF. BALF from patients with CAID contained high levels of neutrophil elastase (NE) activity, suggesting that NE might be an important stimulus for the release of CK19 from BEC. To prove this, we incubated BET-1A cells, a human immortalized bronchial epithelial cell line, both in the absence and the presence of inflammatory mediators (including NE, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], and hydrogen peroxide). We then measured the concentration of CK19 fragments in the culture supernatants with ELISA. BET-1A cells released CK19 fragments into their culture supernatants after treatment with NE but not after treatment with TNF or hydrogen peroxide. Further, we demonstrated that CK19 cleaved by NE could not be detected by ELISA. Our results suggest that CK19 measurement in BALF is useful for assessing the presence of bronchial epithelial injuries.
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PMID:Elevated levels of cytokeratin 19 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with chronic airway inflammatory diseases--a specific marker for bronchial epithelial injury. 910 57

Infectious complications are the leading cause of death in acute pancreatitis. Individual factors of immune defence could be of significance, whether or not a patient develops a severe course with infectious complications. In a prospective 5-year trial including 72 patients, we investigated 29 cellular and humoral markers of the body's defence system for their potential to indicate the severity and course of acute pancreatitis. Complement factors C3 and C4 as well as immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA were normal, in general. Measurable levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2 and sIL-2R could be detected only occasionally. Values of alpha 1-AT, TNF-alpha, TNF alpha-Rp75, neopterin, sICAM-1, IL-8, IL-1RA and sIL-6R did not correlate with a severe course. Due to the high magnitude of increase, CRP, IL-6 and granulocyte elastase were the best indicators of the inflammatory process. Delayed-type hypersensitivity response was the only early predictor of a severe course. It was superior over other cellular markers such as monocyte count or CD4+/CD8+ ratio. In vitro function of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) was not adequate to the severity of the disease already during the first week of illness. During further course, PMN motility and capacities to produce reactive oxygen species even worsened. The compromized PMN function could explain the frequent development of infectious complications in patients suffering from severe pancreatitis. These results should encourage new concepts of infection prophylaxis using stimulants of cellular defence.
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PMID:[Cellular and humoral functions in acute pancreatitis]. 913

Neutrophils play an important role in host defense by phagocytosing and destroying invading bacteria. A recent investigation revealed that glutamine (Gln) augmented the in vitro bactericidal activity of neutrophils from burn patients. However, it is unclear whether Gln enhances the function of neutrophils in postoperative patients. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Gln on the in vitro Escherichia coli-killing activity of neutrophils from postoperative patients. Nine randomly selected patients were included in this study. On the morning of the first postoperative day, blood was drawn and neutrophils were isolated. Eight healthy volunteers served as controls. E. coli was opsonized with pooled normal serum. Neutrophils (5 x 10(6)), together with opsonized E. coli (5 x 10(5)), were incubated for 2 h at 37 degrees C in Hanks' balanced salt solution supplemented with 0, 100, 500, or 1000 nmol/mL of Gln. The bactericidal function of neutrophils was determined by counting the number of viable bacteria. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-8, and granulocyte elastase levels in the cell culture supernatant were measured. Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), cortisol, and amino acids were also analyzed. The plasma concentration of Gln was significantly lower in the postoperative patients than in the controls. Following culture with patient neutrophils, the number of viable E. coli decreased by 26% as the in vitro Gln concentration was increased from 500 to 1000 nmol/mL (P < 0.01). We defined the Gln 1000/Gln 500 ratio of the number of viable bacteria as the number of viable E. coli at an in vitro Gln concentration of 1000 nmol/mL divided by the number of viable E. coli at an in vitro Gln concentration of 500 nmol/mL. A positive correlation was thus demonstrated between the plasma Gln level and the Gln 1000/Gln 500 ratio of the number of viable bacteria in the patients (r = 0.69, P = 0.04). This finding indicated that as plasma Gln fell, there was an enhancement of neutrophil E. coli-killing activity by neutrophils in in vitro tests when the Gln concentration was increased from 500 to 1000 nmol/mL. Gln supplementation caused no appreciable changes in TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-8, or granulocyte elastase levels in cell culture supernatants. A negative correlation was recognized between the patient plasma Gln level and the Gln 1000/Gln 500 ratio of the cell culture supernatant IL-8 level (r = -0.73, P = 0.025). In conclusion, Gln supplementation enhanced the in vitro bactericidal function of neutrophils from postoperative patients.
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PMID:Glutamine-enhanced bacterial killing by neutrophils from postoperative patients. 935 31

This study investigates in vitro effects of specific neutrophil elastase inhibitor ONO-5046.Na on production of proinflammatory cytokines by human monocytes in a neutrophil-free system. Isolated human monocytes were cultured with lipopolysaccharide in the presence or absence of ONO-5046.Na. The production of proinflammatory cytokines was assessed by the measurement of cytokine level in the culture supernatant. ONO-5046.Na significantly inhibited the production of IL-1 beta and IL-6 at the doses between 10(-9) and 10(-7) M, and TNF-alpha at the doses between 10(-9) and 10(-4) M. These results suggest that ONO-5046.Na at clinically available concentrations can inhibit the cytokine production by monocytes. This drug could act as a dual inhibitor of neutrophils and monocytes in inflammatory tissue destruction.
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PMID:Neutrophil elastase inhibitor (ONO-5046.Na) decreases production of proinflammatory cytokines by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human monocytes. 948 18

To examine whether adenosine reduces ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced liver injury by inhibiting leukocyte activation via A2 receptor (A2R), we investigated the effects of adenosine and YT-146, selective A2A receptor (A2AR) agonist, on I/R-induced liver injury in rats. Adenosine and YT-146, in the range of concentrations of 10(-7)-10(-5) M, significantly inhibited the formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced neutrophil elastase release from isolated neutrophils by about 35% in vitro. Adenosine and YT-146, in the range of concentrations of 10(-7)-10(-5) M, significantly inhibited the endotoxin-stimulated TNF-alpha production by monocytes to less than 50% of the control. Although ZM241385, a selective A2AR antagonist, significantly enhanced the fMLP-induced neutrophil elastase release in isolated neutrophils in vitro, this agent did not affect the endotoxin-stimulated TNF-alpha production by monocytes. Male Wistar rats were subjected to complete ischemia of median and left lobes of liver for 60 min and the subsequent reperfusion. Serum levels of transaminases increased over time after hepatic I/R, peaking at 12 hrs after reperfusion. Intravenous infusion of Adenosine (1 and 10 mg/kg/hr) and YT-146 (0.1 and 1 mg/kg/hr) significantly inhibited the I/R-induced increases in serum transaminase levels 12 hrs after reperfusion. The I/R-induced decrease in hepatic tissue blood flow was significantly inhibited by adenosine and YT-146. Hepatic levels of TNF-alpha, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (a member of interleukin-8), and myeloperoxidase were significantly increased after I/R. These increases were significantly inhibited by administration of adenosine and YT-146. However, ZM241385 did not reduce the I/R-induced liver injury and it inhibited neither the decrease in hepatic tissue blood flow, nor the indicators of leukocyte activation. These findings suggest that adenosine may reduce I/R-induced liver injury mainly by inhibiting hepatic TNF-alpha production via A2AR, thereby reducing neutrophil activation.
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PMID:[Adenosine reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced liver injury by inhibiting leukocyte activation]. 1062 74

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal, hereditary disorder characterized by a neutrophil-dominated inflammation of the lung. We sought to determine whether neutrophils from individuals with CF release more neutrophil elastase (NE) than neutrophils from normal subjects. Our results showed that peripheral blood neutrophils (PBNs) from normal subjects and individuals with CF contained similar amounts of NE, but after preincubation with CF bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, significantly more NE was released by CF PBNs, a release that was amplified further by incubation with opsonized Escherichia coli. To determine which components of CF BAL fluid stimulated this excessive NE release from CF PBNs, we repeated the experiments after neutralization or immunoprecipitation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-8 in CF BAL fluid. We found that subsequent NE release from CF PBNs was reduced significantly when TNF-alpha and IL-8 were removed from CF BAL fluid. When TNF-alpha and IL-8 were used as activating stimuli, CF PBNs released significantly greater amounts of NE compared with PBNs from control subjects and individuals with bronchiectasis. These results indicate that CF PBNs respond abnormally to TNF-alpha and IL-8 in CF BAL fluid and react to opsonized bacteria by releasing more NE. This may help explain the increased NE burden seen in this condition.
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PMID:Increased elastase release by CF neutrophils is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8. 1064 88

To examine whether adenosine reduces ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced liver injury by inhibiting leukocyte activation via A(2) receptor (A(2)R) stimulation, we investigated the effects of adenosine and selective A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) agonists (YT-146 and CGS21680C) on I/R-induced liver injury in rats. Adenosine, YT-146, and CGS21680C, in the concentration of 10(-7) to 10(-5) M, significantly inhibited neutrophil elastase release by about 30 to 40% and increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations in isolated neutrophils stimulated with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) in vitro. Adenosine, YT-146, and CGS21680C, in the concentration of 10(-7) to 10(-5) M, significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production by monocytes stimulated with endotoxin by about 50%. Although ZM241385, a selective A(2A)R antagonist, significantly enhanced the increase in neutrophil elastase release and intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations in neutrophils stimulated with fMLP, this agent did not affect the endotoxin-induced TNF-alpha production by monocytes. Rats were subjected to liver ischemia for 60 min. Serum levels of transaminases increased after hepatic I/R, peaking at 12 h after reperfusion. The i.v. infusion of adenosine (1 and 10 mg/kg/h), YT-146 (0.1 and 1 mg/kg/h), and CGS21680C (0.1 and 1 mg/kg/h) significantly inhibited the I/R-induced increase in serum transaminase levels 12 h after reperfusion. The I/R-induced decrease in hepatic tissue blood flow was significantly prevented by adenosine and YT-146. Hepatic levels of TNF-alpha, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (equivalent to human interleukin-8), and myeloperoxidase were significantly increased after I/R. These increases were significantly inhibited by the administration of adenosine, YT-146, and CGS21680C. Although the histological neutrophil accumulation in the liver was significantly increased after I/R as evaluated by the naphthol AS-D chloroacetate technique, the administration of adenosine, YT-146, and CGS21680C significantly inhibited this increase. These findings suggest that adenosine reduces I/R-induced liver injury both by inhibiting the synthesis of inflammatory mediators and by inhibiting neutrophil degranulation directly, probably through A(2A)R stimulation.
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PMID:Adenosine and selective A(2A) receptor agonists reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat liver mainly by inhibiting leukocyte activation. 1094 56


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