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

Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells inhibited tumor necrosis factor-alpha release from whole blood or isolated mononuclear cells exposed to endotoxin. In contrast, the endothelial cells augmented neutrophil elastase release in the same blood. A protein with these functional properties was isolated from endothelial cell-conditioned media and, surprisingly, was identified as calmodulin. Authentic calmodulin mimicked the effect of endothelium. 125I-Calmodulin bound to a high affinity site on monocytic cell lines (Kd approximately 30 nM, in agreement with its functional activity). Cross-linking of 125I-calmodulin to monocytic cells identified a candidate calmodulin receptor. We conclude that calmodulin possesses an extracellular signaling role in addition to its intracellular regulatory functions. Calmodulin released at sites of tissue injury or possibly by specific mechanisms in the endothelium can bind to receptors, modulating the activities of inflammatory cells.
...
PMID:Endothelial cells and extracellular calmodulin inhibit monocyte tumor necrosis factor release and augment neutrophil elastase release. 911 33

Membrane-bound leukocyte elastase activity on neutrophils may have potent proinflammatory effects. Herein, we report the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), platelet-activating factor (PAF), N-formyl-leucyl-methionyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) on membrane-bound elastase expression. TNF-alpha or PAF alone induced only approximately two- to threefold increases in membrane-bound elastase but exhibited marked dose- and time-dependent priming effects for subsequent stimulation with fMLP or IL-8 (up to 20-fold increases in membrane-bound human leukocyte elastase compared with unstimulated cells). Optimally PAF-primed and fMLP-stimulated cells expressed 1.105 +/- 0.25 (SD) x 10(-17) mol [6.65 +/- 1.51 (SD) x 10(6) molecules] membrane-bound elastase activity/cell or approximately 12% of the content of unstimulated cells. Elastase binds to the cell surface by a charge-dependent mechanism since 1) incubation of cells with cationic molecules abrogated agonist-induced upregulation of membrane-bound elastase and 2) elastase was progressively eluted from the cell surface by solutions with increasing ionic strength. Thus interactions between proinflammatory mediators strikingly upregulate membrane-bound elastase on neutrophils, which may promote inflammatory responses and/or contribute to tissue injury.
...
PMID:Cytokines regulate membrane-bound leukocyte elastase on neutrophils: a novel mechanism for effector activity. 912 93

Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (A1-Pi) is the main serine proteinase inhibitor found in human plasma and is a potent elastase inhibitor in various tissues, including lung. A1-Pi is expressed and induced in liver during inflammatory responses but can also be produced by epithelial cells. Since hepatocyte A1-Pi production is stimulated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other gp130-cytokines, such as leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and oncostatin M (OM), we investigated the role of these cytokines in regulating A1-Pi in lung epithelial cells. We show that OM, a monocyte and T cell product, can specifically and potently induce A1-Pi production in lung-derived A549 alveolar (epithelial) cells, as well as in liver-derived HepG2 cells. Both A1-Pi protein (as detected by ELISA and Western blots) and mRNA levels were enhanced 20-fold to 30-fold in A549 cells. OM was also able to stimulate the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in these cells. Interestingly, other members of the IL-6 family (IL-6 and LIF) had little or no effect on A549 cells, and proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) also had no stimulatory effect on A1-Pi synthesis in A549 cells. Costimulation with IL-1 beta resulted in a decrease in A1-Pi production from OM-stimulated A549 cells. However, IL-6 production was synergistically enhanced. OM was also able to stimulate A1-Pi production from a bronchial epithelial primary cell line, whereas an intestinal epithelial cell line HT29 responded to IL-6 but not OM. These results suggest that lung levels A1-Pi could be derived not only from liver and inflammatory cells but also from epithelial cells, which can be upregulated on stimulation by OM. This may have implications for regulation of local activity of human neutrophil elastase (HNE) in such diseases as emphysema and cystic fibrosis.
...
PMID:Oncostatin M, but not interleukin-6 or leukemia inhibitory factor, stimulates expression of alpha1-proteinase inhibitor in A549 human alveolar epithelial cells. 919 1

We measured circulating and sputum-sol concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), neutrophil elastase-alpha1-antiproteinase complex (NEAPC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in an exacerbation, after antibiotic treatment, and in clinically stable patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aim was to determine the compartmental patterns of a proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine compared with other markers of inflammatory activity in cystic fibrosis. IL-6, NEAPC, CRP, and absolute neutrophil count were reduced after antibiotic treatment, p < 0.01. IL-6 and CRP concentrations were greater, p = 0.007, and p = 0.01, respectively, in a stable group of patients compared with those at the end of an exacerbation. IL-6 and CRP concentrations were related (r = 0.836, p < 0.0001), and both were greater than in matched control subjects (p < 0.001) at all times studied. Sputum-sol concentrations of IL-6 after treatment were positively related to FEV1 and FVC and inversely related to concentrations of neutrophil elastase. The separation between patients and healthy subjects, and the reduction of IL-6 after antibiotic treatment indicates it could be used as a marker of inflammation, but its relationship to other markers depends on the compartment in which it is measured.
...
PMID:Circulating immunoreactive interleukin-6 in cystic fibrosis. 962 Sep 3

HIV-1-infected patients are in chronic oxidative stress and clastogenic factors (CFs) are present in their plasma. CFs from patients with HIV are formed via superoxide anion radical and stimulate further superoxide production. The pathophysiolgic significance and the exact composition of the circulating clastogenic material in patients with HIV is unknown. Cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), are increased in the plasma of patients with HIV and TNF-alpha shows clastogenic activity in vitro. The aim of this clinical study was to compare levels of CF in HIV-1-positive patients with asymptomatic disease, opportunistic infections, and malignancies with those in HIV-1-negative control groups and to correlate CF activity with CD4+ T cell numbers, the cytokines (TNF-alpha, interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-6), and the inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], neopterin, granulocyte elastase). CFs were significantly increased in all HIV-1-positive patients and in HIV-1-negative patients with malignant tumors. HIV-1-positive patients with Kaposi's sarcoma showed the highest CF activity in their plasma (p < 0.08). CFs appear very early in HIV infection, and they correlate negatively with CD4+ T cells, which are an indicator of disease activity. The presence of CF in the plasma of HIV-infected patients is not a general response to a viral infection because these factors are not increased in HIV-1-negative patients with viral infection (zoster). CFs are not specific for the HIV-1 infection; they also occur in HIV-1-negative patients with malignant tumors. There was a tendency towards a positive correlation (p < 0.14) between CF and TNF-alpha but there was no positive correlation of CF with IL-2, IL-6, CRP, elastase, and neopterin levels. This indicates that TNF-alpha may be among the components of CF in HIV-1-infected patients. In addition, other unidentified components may contribute to the clastogenic activity of the plasma or the composition of CF may vary from patient to patient. Further clinical studies with larger sample populations are necessary to analyze the composition of CF in HIV-1-positive patients.
...
PMID:Multiparameter analysis of clastogenic factors, pro-oxidant cytokines, and inflammatory markers in HIV-1-infected patients with asymptomatic disease, opportunistic infections, and malignancies. 964 83

The effects of inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on cell and protease activation were evaluated in 18 normal volunteers given endotoxin (4 ng/kg, i.v.) after an infusion of low (10 mg/m2 i.v., n = 6) or high dose (60 mg/m2 i.v., n = 6) recombinant human dimeric TNF receptor protein (TNFR:Fc) or its vehicle (placebo n = 6). Activation of the coagulation system occurred by 2 h in the TNFR:Fc vehicle-placebo group manifested by decreased prekallikrein functional levels and increased levels of prothrombin F1+2 fragments (p < 0.0001). High or low dose TNFR:Fc delayed the fall in prekallikrein functional levels by 1 h and 4 h, respectively (p < 0.0002), but did not inhibit the increase in circulating levels of prothrombin F1+2 fragments. In contrast, endothelium activation, characterized by increased levels of tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and von Willebrand Factor antigen was blunted by both low and high dose TNFR:Fc (p < 0.001). While the endotoxin-associated decrease in platelet number was not altered, platelet-derived beta-thromboglobulin peak levels were blunted and delayed by TNFR:Fc (p < 0.02). Increased levels of neutrophil elastase were attenuated by low and high dose TNFR:Fc (p < 0.001). These results suggest that although TNF is functionally linked to the activation of endothelium, neutrophils, coagulation, and fibrinolysis, alternative pathways are present in vivo that result in activation of the kallikrein-kinin system after endotoxin-induced TNF release. These alternative pathways may limit some of the anti-inflammatory effects of TNFR:Fc.
...
PMID:Recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor p75 fusion protein (TNFR:Fc) alters endotoxin-induced activation of the kinin, fibrinolytic, and coagulation systems in normal humans. 968 96

Urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) is a physiological protease inhibitor and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI) is regarded as a precursor of UTI. The purpose of this study is to determine the mechanism of the UTI release from ITI. To examine this, ITI was digested by human neutrophil elastase at various concentrations, and UTI-related proteins which were of the same size as UTI were obtained. The amino acid sequence of the 15 amino acid residues at the N-terminal of UTI-related proteins, corresponded to that of UTI. The amino acid sequences of the small amount of peptides detected corresponded to those of peptides from the heavy chain1 (H1) and the heavy chain2 (H2) of ITI, suggesting that most UTI-related proteins do not combine with peptides from the H1 and H2 of ITI. It was also revealed that UTI-related proteins have several physiological activities similar to those of UTI, i.e., human trypsin inhibitory activity, human neutrophil elastase inhibitory activity, inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production from rat macrophages and of superoxide production from rabbit leukocytes. These results demonstrated that ITI is a precursor of UTI which is digested by human neutrophil elastase to release UTI, and that its elastase inhibitory activity is derived from UTI.
...
PMID:Human neutrophil elastase degrades inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor to liberate urinary trypsin inhibitor related proteins. 970 43

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze aminoacylation of transfer RNAs (tRNAs). It is shown that human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase can be split into two fragments with distinct cytokine activities. The endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide II-like carboxy-terminal domain has potent leukocyte and monocyte chemotaxis activity and stimulates production of myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and tissue factor. The catalytic amino-terminal domain binds to the interleukin-8 type A receptor and functions as an interleukin-8-like cytokine. Under apoptotic conditions in cell culture, the full-length enzyme is secreted, and the two cytokine activities can be generated by leukocyte elastase, an extracellular protease. Secretion of this tRNA synthetase may contribute to apoptosis both by arresting translation and producing needed cytokines.
...
PMID:Two distinct cytokines released from a human aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. 1021 33

Inflammatory phenomena at sites of atherosclerotic plaques are increasingly thought to be major determinants of the progression and clinical outcome of atherosclerotic disease. Therefore, attention is being paid to systemic markers/mediators which may reflect the inflammatory activity in the plaques. This study evaluates the pattern of the main proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), their soluble receptors/antagonist, and a variety of inflammatory markers, in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Eight patients with PAD suffering from claudicatio intermittens (CI), eight with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and eight controls (C) were studied. Blood samples were collected at baseline in all groups and. for C and CI, immediately after and 4 h after a 30-min treadmill test. Baseline: no differences in cytokine plasma levels were detected among the three groups. In contrast, soluble receptors of TNF (type I and II) and of IL-6, and IL-1beta receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) were increased in CI and CLI patients, as compared to C. Of note, IL-Ira correlated with the occurrence and stage of the disease in a highly significant proportion of the patients, reaching a predictive value for the disease of P < 0.0001. The opposite trend was observed for the soluble receptor of IL-1beta. Notably, in the patients no alterations could be found in white blood cell counts, expression of CD11c adherence molecule by circulating monocytes or, in vitro. O2- release from zymosan-activated neutrophils. Moreover, plasma levels of platelet activating factor (PAF), of neutrophil elastase and of the acute phase reactants C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha1-acid glycoprotein were not found to be significantly altered. In contrast, the acute-phase proteins alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1AT) and haptoglobin (HG) were found to be increased. Effect of treadmill: IL-1beta and TNFalpha remained at baseline levels following exercise, and IL-6 dropped to undetectable levels. Among cytokine antagonists, again the most relevant changes concerned the IL-1ra, which was significantly increased immediately after the treadmill test, both in CI and C, and returned to baseline levels after 4 h. In contrast, soluble TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 receptors, PAF, and the other markers of leukocyte activation were not found to be altered. Soluble TNFalpha and IL-6 receptors were shown to inhibit the biological effects of their ligands. Similarly, IL-1ra and the acute phase proteins alpha1AT and HG have been reported to exert anti-inflammatory functions. The increased plasma levels of these agents, together with low levels of inflammatory cytokines and other pro-inflammatory mediators such as PAF and alpha1-acid glycoprotein, appear to draw an undescribed picture, so far, of upregulation of a composite systemic anti-inflammatory mechanism in atherosclerotic patients. IL-1ra appears to be a reliable marker of the state of activation of this mechanism. These results may provide a basis for developing new insights into the pathogenesis of the atherosclerotic disease.
...
PMID:Atherosclerosis and inflammation. Patterns of cytokine regulation in patients with peripheral arterial disease. 1042 95

Cepharanthine, a biscoclaurine alkaloid, has been shown to inhibit leukocyte activation in vitro. To determine whether cepharanthine may be of use in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), we investigated its effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary vascular injury in rats, in which activated leukocytes have been implicated. Intravenous administration of LPS (5 mg/kg) induced pulmonary vascular injury, as indicated by increases in both the pulmonary vascular permeability and the lung wet/dry weight ratio. LPS-induced pulmonary vascular injury was significantly less in animals given cepharanthine (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Cepharanthine significantly inhibited the LPS-induced increases in plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations in vivo and significantly inhibited the production of TNF-alpha by LPS-stimulated monocytes in vitro. Cepharanthine also inhibited the functions of activated neutrophils in vitro such as neutrophil elastase release, oxygen radical generation, and neutrophil aggregation, probably by inhibiting a rise in the intracellular free calcium concentration. These findings suggest that cepharanthine prevents LPS-induced pulmonary vascular injury by inhibiting leukocyte activation.
...
PMID:The prevention of lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary vascular injury by pretreatment with cepharanthine in rats. 1061 98


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >>