Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.24.11 (CD10)
 9,792 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Since calcium activated neutral proteinase (calpain) is present in the central nervous system (CNS) and degrades myelin proteins, this endopeptidase has been suggested to play a role in myelin destruction in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study, calpain immunocytochemical expression was examined in Lewis rats with acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for MS and optic neuritis. To identify cells expressing calpain, we labeled rat optic nerve sections for calpain with a polyclonal myelin calpain antibody and with monoclonal antibodies for glial (GFAP, OX42) and inflammatory (CD2, ED2, ED1, IFN-gamma) cell-specific markers. The results showed increased calpain expression in microglia (OX42) and infiltrating macrophages (ED1,2) in EAE compared to normal controls. Astrocytes constitutively expressed calpain in controls and acute EAE. Reactive astrocytes in EAE located in or near inflammatory foci, exhibited markedly increased calpain expression. Most T cells in acute EAE showed low level calpain expression while activated IFN-gamma-producing lymphocytes in inflammatory foci exhibited elevated levels of calpain expression. Thus, our results demonstrate increased calpain expression (at transcriptional and/or translational levels) in a rat model of optic neuritis. A role for calpain in myelin destruction during optic neuritis may be relevant to the pathogenesis of this disorder.
 ...
PMID:Increased calpain expression in experimental demyelinating optic neuritis: an immunocytochemical study. 951 58

Calcium activated neutral proteinase (calpain) is an endopeptidase present in the central nervous system which degrades myelin proteins. To examine the role of calpain in demyelination associated with optic neuritis, immunocytochemical expression of calpain was evaluated in Lewis rats with experimental optic neuritis. Calpain expression was increased in activated microglia, infiltrating macrophages, activated T cells, and reactive astrocytes in experimental optic neuritis compared to controls. Calpain activity and translational expression were also examined by Western blotting studies measuring the extent of myelin protein degradation, calpain-specific fodrin proteolysis, axonal neurofilament degradation, and calpain proenzyme content. Results showed myelin associated glycoprotein and 68 kD neurofilament protein levels were significantly decreased while calpain translational expression and calpain-autolyzed fodrin levels were significantly increased in experimental optic neuritis compared to controls. Thus, increased activity and translational expression of calpain in optic neuritis may be integral to the pathogenesis of this disorder.
 ...
PMID:A putative role for calpain in demyelination associated with optic neuritis. 1021 25