Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.21.4 (trypsin)
 42,187 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Testicular dysfunction correlates with increased testicular mast cells. Mast cells can activate fibroblasts and promote collagen synthesis. The aim of the study was to examine testicular mast cells containing tryptase, and the relationship between mast cells and different fibrosis stages of interstitium and peritubular region of testes. Testicular biopsies obtained from 33 infertile men were assigned to 2 groups: normal spermatogenesis (n = 10) and defective spermatogenesis (n = 23). Total, interstitial, and peritubular mast cells were examined immunohistochemically using antihuman tryptase. The fibrosis stage was evaluated using vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin. The ratio of tubules with sclerosis to total tubules was also calculated. In all cases, mast cells were mainly localized in the interstitium. The number of total mast cells was significantly higher in defective spermatogenesis than in normal spermatogenesis (p = .048). In both groups, interstitial mast cells were higher than peritubular mast cells. However, the increase in peritubular region was much higher than the increase in interstitium. Total, peritubular, and interstitial mast cell counts were not different from each other, according to the changing fibrosis stages. Total and interstitial mast cells were significantly higher in the cases with sclerosing seminiferous tubules than in the cases with no sclerosis (p = .04 and p = .024, respectively). The mast cells and the mast cell product tryptase could be involved in the etiology of defective spermatogenesis, especially whenever the last stage (tubular hyalinization and sclerosis) takes place.
 ...
PMID:Mast cells and fibrosis on testicular biopsies in male infertility. 1223 Aug 19

This is, to our knowledge, the first report of a fibroma originating in the pancreas in which preoperative imaging findings or explicit descriptions of histopathologic observations are clearly described. A 64-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of a pancreatic mass. Clinical examination and laboratory analysis revealed no abnormal findings, except for mild elevation of serum trypsin (550 ng/ml). Abdominal ultrasonogram, computed tomographic scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography demonstrated a well-demarcated circular mass in the tail of the pancreas. A laparotomy was performed on April 26, 1995. The tumor was observed to be tan-colored and smooth, and was localized in the front of the pancreas tail, suggesting that it had arisen from the pancreatic capsule. The patient underwent enucleation of the tumor. The resected tumor presented macroscopically as a fibrous nodule measuring 5.5 x 6.0 cm. The pathological diagnosis was fibroma. Immunohistochemically, spindle cells were positive for vimentin and negative for alpha-smooth muscle actin, desmin, S-100, and neuron-specific enolase.
 ...
PMID:Benign nonepithelial fibroma in the pancreas. 1254 Oct 55

Recent evidence suggests a role for mast cells in the pathogenesis of renal scarring in various glomerulopathies, therefore the present study was undertaken to evaluate whether mast cells have a role in tubulointerstitial fibrosis in rebiopsied patients with idiopathic mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPG) and to examine a possible relationship between mast cells and interstitial alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression as well as interstitial infiltrates. Seventeen patients with idiopathic mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, in whom renal biopsies were repeated and for whom light and electron microscopy as well as immunofluorescence microscopy and full clinical data were available were examined quantitatively. Morphometric investigations were performed by means of a computer image analysis system. The study revealed that at the rebiopsy proteinuria was significantly lower as compared with the first biopsy. On the other hand, the mean values of the interstitial tryptase positive cells, expression of alpha-SMA, interstitial volume and CD68+ cells were at rebiopsy significantly increased. The mean values of CD45RB+, CD43+ and CD20+ cells did not differ significantly in these groups. In both initial biopsy and rebiopsy groups there were significant positive correlations between interstitial tryptase positive cells and interstitial expression of alpha-SMA, interstitial volume, and CD68+ cells. The present quantitative study may suggest that despite of the clinical improvement at rebiopsy, MPG is a progressive glomerular disease, and point to a role of mast cells in this process.
 ...
PMID:Immunohistochemical analysis of the interstitial mast cells in rebiopsied patients with idiopathic mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. 1609 67

Pericryptal fibroblasts (PFs), a class of myofibroblasts, have strongly been implicated in the regulation of villous structure because of their location close to crypts and their ability to secrete cytokines affecting intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. Recently, mast cells (MCs) have also been involved in the homeostasis of villous architecture. As myofibroblasts arise in a wide variety of settings concurrently with a local increase in the number of tissue MCs, we calculated in this study the density of both PF and distinct pericryptal MC phenotypes in the mucosa of human duodenum showing normal, defective, or atrophic villous profiles. In addition, we evaluated the statistical association between PF-MC densities and each pattern of villous architecture. Finally, we correlated the density of PF with the density of pericryptal MC phenotypes. For this purpose, samples taken by endoscopy from 30 patients complaining of inflammatory bowel disorders were studied by immunohistochemistry. The densities of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive PFs as well as tryptase-, chymase-, and c-kit-positive MCs were determined in the crypt lamina propria. Villous architecture was found to be significantly associated with the number of PFs and tryptase-, chymase-, c-kit-positive MCs in the lamina propria (ANOVA group effect P < 0.001). High density of both PFs and MCs was found in intestinal samples with normal villous morphology while lower densities were associated with defective or atrophic villous profiles (Tukey's test for multiple comparison P < 0.001). In addition, a significant correlation was found between PF density and the density of each pericryptal MC phenotype (vs. tryptase-positive MCs, r = 0.913; vs. chymase-positive MC, r = 0.905; vs. c-kit-positive MC, r = 0.927; P < 0.001 in all cases). This study provides morphological support for an important cooperation between PFs and MCs in maintaining normal villous architecture.
 ...
PMID:Number of pericryptal fibroblasts correlates with density of distinct mast cell phenotypes in the crypt lamina propria of human duodenum: implications for the homeostasis of villous architecture. 1665 53

This paper reports on the development of an entirely new intestinal smooth muscle cell (ISMC) culture model using rat neonates for use in pharmacological research applications. Segments of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rat neonates. The cell extraction technique consisted of ligating both ends of the intestine and incubating (37 degrees C) in 0.25% trypsin for periods of 30-90 min. Isolated cells were suspended in DMEM-HEPES, plated and allowed to proliferate for 7 days. Cell culture quality was assessed via a series of viability tests using the dye exclusion assay. In separate experiments, tissues were exposed to trypsin for varying durations and subsequently histological procedures were applied. Cell purification techniques included differential adhesion technique for minimizing fibroblasts. Selective treatments with neurotoxin scorpion venom (30 microg mL(-1)) and anti-mitotic cytosine arabinoside (6 microm) were also applied to purify respectively ISMC and myenteric neurones selectively. The different cell populations were identified in regard to morphology and growth characteristics via immunocytochemistry using antibodies to smooth muscle alpha-actin, alpha-actinin and serotonin-5HT3 receptors. Based on both viability and cell confluence experiments, results demonstrated that intestinal cells were best obtained from segments of the ileum dissociated in trypsin for 30 min. This provided the optimum parameters to yield highly viable cells and confluent cultures. The finding was further supported by histological studies demonstrating that an optimum incubation time of 30 min is required to isolate viable cells from the muscularis externae layer. When cell cultures were treated with cytosine arabinoside, the non-neuronal cells were abolished, resulting in the proliferation of cell bodies and extended neurites. Conversely, cultures treated with scorpion venom resulted in complete abolition of neurones and proliferation of increasing numbers of ISMC, which were spindle-shaped and uniform throughout the culture. When characterized by immunocytochemistry, neurones were stained with antibody to 5HT3 receptors but not with antibodies to alpha-smooth muscle actin and alpha-actinin. Conversely, ISMC were stained with antibodies to alpha-smooth muscle actin and alpha-actinin but not with antibody to 5HT3 receptors. The present study provides evidence that our method of dissociation and selectively purifying different cell populations will allow for pharmacological investigation of each cell type on different or defined mixtures of different cell types.
 ...
PMID:Development of an intestinal cell culture model to obtain smooth muscle cells and myenteric neurones. 1797 53

Interstitial Cajal-like Cells (ICLC) were recently recognized in a plethora of non-digestive organs. Here, we describe a cell type of rat mesentery sharing ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features with ICLC. Mesenteric ICLC were demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and further tested by light microscope immunohistochemistry. The cell described here fulfils the TEM diagnostic criteria accepted for ICLC: location in the connective interstitium; close vicinity to nerves, capillaries and other interstitial cells; characteristic long, moniliform cell processes; specialized cell-to-cell junctions; caveolae; mitochondria at 5-10% of cytoplasmic volume; rough endoplasmic reticulum at about 1-2%; intermediate and thin filaments, microtubules; undetectable thick filaments. The processes of this mesenteric ICLC were particularly long, with a mean length of 24.91 microm (10.27-50.83 micorm), and a convolution index of 2.32 (1.37-3.63) was calculated in order to measure their potential length. Mean distances versus main target cells of ICLC-nerve bundles, vessels, adipocytes and macrophages-were 110.69, 115.80, 205.07 and 34.65 nm, respectively. We also tested the expression of CD117/c-kit, CD34, vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, nestin, NK-1, tryptase and chymase and the antigenic profile of the mesenteric ICLC was comparable if not identical with that recently observed in ICLC from other extra-digestive tissues. Due to the peculiar aspect of the mesenteric ICLC processes it can be hypothesized that these cells form a three-dimensional network within the mesentery that is at the same time resistant and deformable following stretches consequent to intestine movements, mainly avoiding blood vessels closure or controlling blood vessels rheology. It remains, however, to be established if and how such cells are connected with the archetypal enteric ICC.
 ...
PMID:Interstitial Cajal-like cells in rat mesentery: an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical approach. 1819 43

Coagulation proteases have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of tissue remodeling and fibrosis. We therefore assessed the proinflammatory and fibroproliferative effects of coagulation protease factor (F)Xa. We show that FXa elicits a signaling response in C2C12 and NIH3T3 fibroblasts. FXa-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation was dependent on protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 cleavage because desensitization with a PAR-2 agonist (trypsin) but not a PAR-1 agonist (thrombin) abolished FXa-induced signal transduction and PAR-2 siRNA abolished FXa-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. The PAR-2-dependent cellular effects of FXa led to fibroblast proliferation, migration, and differentiation into myofibroblasts, as demonstrated by the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin, followed by the secretion of the cytokines monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and interleukin-6 as well as the expression of the fibrogenic proteins transforming growth factor-beta and fibronectin. To assess the relevance of FXa-induced proliferation and cell migration, we examined the effect of FXa in a wound scratch assay. Indeed, FXa facilitated wound healing in a PAR-2- and ERK1/2-dependent manner. Taken together, these results support the notion that, beyond its role in coagulation, FXa-dependent PAR-2 cleavage might play a role in the progression of tissue fibrosis and remodeling.
 ...
PMID:Factor Xa stimulates proinflammatory and profibrotic responses in fibroblasts via protease-activated receptor-2 activation. 1820 98

Previous attempts to create small-caliber vascular prostheses have been limited. The aim of this study was to generate tissue-engineered small-diameter vascular grafts using decellularized ureters (DUs). Canine ureters were decellularized using one of four different chemical agents [Triton-X 100 (Tx), deoxycholate (DCA), trypsin, or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)] and the histology, residual DNA contents, and immunogenicity of the resulting DUs were compared. The mechanical properties of the DUs were evaluated in terms of water permeability, burst strength, tensile strength, and compliance. Cultured canine endothelial cells (ECs) and myofibroblasts were seeded onto DUs and evaluated histologically. Canine carotid arteries were replaced with the EC-seeded DUs (n = 4). As controls, nonseeded DUs (n = 5) and PTFE prostheses (n = 4) were also used to replace carotid arteries. The degree of decellularization and the maintenance of the matrix were best in the Tx-treated DUs. Tx-treated and DCA-treated DUs had lower remnant DNA contents and immunogenicity than the others. The burst strength of the DUs was more than 500 mmHg and the maximum tensile strength of the DUs was not different to that of native ureters. DU compliance was similar to that of native carotid artery. The cell seeding test resulted in monolayered ECs and multilayered alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells on the DUs. The animal implantation model showed that the EC-seeded DUs were patent for at least 6 months after the operation, whereas the nonseeded DUs and PTFE grafts become occluded within a week. These results suggest that tissue-engineered DUs may be a potential alternative conduit for bypass surgery.
 ...
PMID:Decellularized ureter for tissue-engineered small-caliber vascular graft. 1860 13

A simple and non-mechanical enzymatic method for the isolation and large-scale in vitro culture of bovine retinal endothelial cells (BRECs) is described. A sufficiently high yield of retinal microvessels was obtained from bovine eyes by brisk stirring of the retina with Minimum Essential Medium for 3 min, washing the pellet five times by repeated centrifugation at 300 x g and sieving in a single step. Pericyte contamination was eliminated by increasing the incubation period in an enzyme mixture and passaging the cells at a low concentration of trypsin for 1-2 min. The cells were grown in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM) with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cells were cobble-stone shaped and stained positive for von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and cluster differentiation factors, CD31 and CD146. These cells stained negative for alpha-smooth muscle actin (ASMA) and glial fibilary acidic protein (GFAP), forming characteristic capillary tube-like structures on matrigel. Here we optimized the method for the isolation of pure retinal endothelial cells without using complex procedures and sophisticated instruments. This method is simpler, more rapid and cost-effective, and also results in a higher yield of endothelial cells than other methods. Retinal endothelial cells cultured in this way will be used to study the pathogenesis of vascular eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and other neovascularization diseases. They can also serve as an excellent in vitro model system for drug analysis.
 ...
PMID:High-yielding enzymatic method for isolation and culture of microvascular endothelial cells from bovine retinal blood vessels. 1923 16

Over a decade, there is accumulating evidence that activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a pivotal role in the development of pancreatic fibrosis. In response to pancreatic injury or inflammation, quiescent PSCs are transformed (activated) to myofibroblast-like cells, which express alpha-smooth muscle actin. Activated PSCs proliferate, migrate, produce extracellular matrix components, such as type I collagen, and express cytokines and chemokines. Recent studies have suggested novel roles of PSCs in local immune functions and angiogenesis in the pancreas. If the pancreatic inflammation and injury are sustained or repeated, PSC activation is perpetuated, leading to the development of pancreatic fibrosis. In this context, pancreatic fibrosis can be defined as pathologic changes of extracellular matrix composition in both quantity and quality, resulting from perpetuated activation of PSCs. Because PSCs are very similar to hepatic stellate cells, PSC research should develop in directions more relevant to the pathophysiology of the pancreas, for example, issues related to trypsin, non-oxidative alcohol metabolites, and pancreatic cancer. Indeed, in addition to their roles in chronic pancreatitis, it has been increasingly recognized that PSCs contribute to the progression of pancreatic cancer. Very recently, contribution of bone marrow-derived cells to PSCs was reported. Further elucidation of the roles of PSCs in pancreatic fibrosis should promote development of rational approaches for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
 ...
PMID:Roles of pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis. 1989 99


<< Previous 1 2